News Item: Pre-production photos of Kindertransport

Saturday May 29th, then Monday 31st May to Saturday June 5th at 7.45pm - plus matinée at 2.30pm on 5th June 2010.

Photos: Malcolm Brown  at Alresford station courtesy of the Watercress Line

Safe…Eva (Mimi Gilles) steps off the train which has brought her to England away from the persecution of the Jewish people in Germany

 
Lonely child in a new land…Eva (Mimi Gilles) wonders what the future will bring

Pleased to meet you…Eva (Mimi Gilles) is welcomed by Lil (Sarah Hawkins)

You won’t need that any more… Lil (Sarah Hawkins) removes the yellow star from the coat of the little girl, Eva, (Mimi Gilles) who has arrived on the Kindertransport from Germany

The way I was… Evelyn (Corinne Strickland right) looks down on her younger self (Mimi Gilles) and remembers that first day in England

The yellow star…Evelyn (Corinne Strickland) recalls the day she arrived in England as a German Jewish refugee called Eva (Mimi Gilles)

My daughter…Lil (Sarah Hawkins centre) with Eva (Mimi Gilles) and Evelyn (Corinne Strickland)

Chesil travels back in time for Kindertransport?

When members of the Chesil Theatre wanted an old fashioned railway station for publicity photos for Kindertransport they naturally thought of the Watercress Line at Alresford.

The marketing team aimed to re-create the scene where Eva (Mimi Gilles) arrives in England. Mimi plays one of the thousands of Jewish children who were sent to the UK from Germany in 1939.

Separated from their parents the children had to adjust to a different culture and language where they faced, not the horror of the death camps, but a very human mixture of kindness, indifference some suspicion and the selflessness of ordinary people coping with needy children.

Shots were set up of Eva feeling frightened and alone, Lil (Sarah Hawkins), who takes her in, meeting the bewildered child and removing the Star of David from her clothing and Evelyn, the adult Eva played by Corinne Strickett, looking back on her younger self.

Staff at the station were most helpful letting Malcolm Brown, the director and photographer, know exactly when the train would arrive, what happens when the engine is uncoupled and reconnected. We particularly needed a shot of Eva in the steam and the engine crew obliged by steaming up especially for us giving lots of opportunities to get exactly the photo we wanted.
 

Performances

Chesil Theatre Winchester, Saturday May 29^th – Then Monday 31^st - Saturday June 5^th 7.45pm Matinee Saturday 5^th  2.30pm

Directed by Malcolm Brown

Tickets £10 Monday May 31^st and Matinee £8 available from Theatre Royal., Winchester, Box Office 01962 840440 (credit cards subject to additional charge)

For further information see the website www.chesiltheatre.org.uk