3 Winters

Sophie Rundle & Jodie McNee - independent

'3 Winters' has endured a barrage of good reviews being considered a 'subtle epic' by TimeOut, but having spent 2hrs 40mins in the theatre, I left just as indifferent as when I arrived. The official National Theatre rating for it was 3 stars, Though I'd knock that back to two.

Siobhan Finneran - lovetheatre.com

Credit where credit's due, Jodie McNee as Alisa was full of energy and kept the audience's attention through opinionated insults towards her sister, Lucia (Sophie Rundle) and verbal attacks on political views of her father (Rawlins). Siobhan Finneran as the mother was great on stage too; tired facial expressions that said it all, comedy moments that were played out so perfectly as to suggest the growing annoyance and banter between husband and wife over the years. She was also wonderful to watch when looking after her elderly father (Laurenson). She managed the motherly position better than I have ever seen on stage. Certainly tops Brendan Coyle's performance in Mojo last year! Although on-stage husband, Adrian Rawlins, did not act with any particular conviction. It was more saying lines than acting them. 

Susan Engel & James Laurenson - dailymail

Susan Engel was among the best, as was her younger self played by Hermione Gulliford. They captured the mentality of a woman who has been locked away for all of her life as well as capturing her class in being brought up as a lady. Karolina, feels no sense of entitlement, having sent Marsha and her mother to the streets to live. But now, she is sorry and spends the next 66yrs becoming friends with Marsha's mother and living alongside as part of the Kos family. Lucy Black as Dunya with Dunya when acting alongside Charlotte Beaumont as the younger Lucia were joyous to watch as Beaumont captured the energy and excitement of a young child with a polaroid camera. Sibling rivalry was rife and it made the early years entertaining to watch. Although entertainment, or anything else, seemed to lack from the rest of the play.

3 Winters - NationalTheatre

The tale was dry. It lacked a point. It was simply a story that I felt had no purpose and therefore just didn't need to be told. It half-heartedly made a statement about hierarchy, class and entitlement but never really arrived at the point. What was it we were supposed to learn? That entitlement is false, that hypocrisy is rife or that countries prone to revolution are almost certain to face a conflict of interest and of values?

There was no resolution. I think that's my issue. The characters just went their own way which left us waiting for something to happen. And it never did. Alisa left one way and Lucia got married and went the other. What lessons were learned, we will never know.

To hand it to them, the cast did good with what they had, but they didn't have a lot to begin with. 

World Press Exhibition

Peter Holgersson, Sweden

The female form has always been the subject of many photographers, artists and film-makers. Yet this exhibition, truly showed how it's no longer just about the bodily form, but about what women represent. In this exhibition, they shone through as representations of anything and everything.

Markus Schreiber, Germany

We had women as objects of sexual desire in the Legends Football League which shows women playing football in lingerie (which has to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of). We had women as the victims of abuse in a series of photographs of a young girl, her child and her partner. We also had women as symbols of remarkable strength and willpower, particularly in the heptathlon photos of Nadja Casadei who was diagnosed with cancer yet still kept up her vigorous training programme whilst undergoing chemotherapy. And there was one image of a woman with such sadness in her eyes it brought tears to mine, as she'd waited and waited whilst access to see Nelson Mandela's casket was closed.

Fred Ramos, El Salvador

It wasn't just women though, it was great representation of humanity as a whole, bad and good. The photos leaked creativity and insight into stories from across the world, which obviously got my documentary blood pumping. There were some images that really stood out to me as I walked around the Royal Festival Hall.

One was this one, the clothes of victims of homicide showing us just how futile attempts to discover who those who once wore these clothes might be. It showed also just how unremarkable we are as humans as we disappear into the ground and leave nothing behind.

Taslima Akhter, Bangladesh

Another, was the image of the collapsed Rana Plaza building with two people, a male and a female, embracing one another as they are photographed dead amongst the rubble. No-one knows what the relationship between the two people was, but I think it shows a lot about human strength and hope, amidst a disaster that shows humanity's flaws simultaneously.

Danila Tkachenko, Russia

The next group of images really spoke to me as someone who enjoys her own company perhaps a little too much. There was a group of photos showing three men who have secluded themselves from the world and where they live. I'd be interested to know what people's reactions were to the images as to me, I felt a real sense of envy and appreciation for their freedom but I know others might have walked past and coined them 'weirdos' and that's that.

Robin Hammond, New Zealand

 The next image that stood out to me, were the images of men chained to posts and walls, forced to live outside or in the darkness of shacks with locks on, in various African countries. When I wandered nearer to read the description of why they were chained up, was met with the explanation that they were suffering from mental illness or disability and were treated this way in order to heal them. I was appalled and at the same time intrigued as to how very different cultures and understanding can be across the globe.

Peter Van Agtmael, USA

The final images that stuck out were those of Bobby Henline. As he walked down the street our photographer captured the very moment that those around him realized his disfigurement. I feel as though in this picture, each face tells a story. You can almost hear the thoughts in their heads. A frizzy haired mother looking on at him confused, a distracted father and daughter, an older brother oblivious to Bobby's presence who looks ahead to his next antic, a younger brother looking both in wonder and in fear at this bold man walking down the street. Bobby, knowing people will stare and trying to continue to walk boldly with his head held high. It really captures a story in just one second.

Carla Kogelman, The Netherlands

Goran Tomasevic, Serbia

There are so many more that really spoke to me. There were pictures of two blonde girls who had complete freedom and made me wanted to run faster than ever back to my home-town and back to my childhood. There was an image of a swimmer doing backstroke where I couldn't quite decide which part of the body was which and that strangely made it more beautiful. There were the blind albino boys in the school in West Benghal and the diver surrounded by a dark sea abyss of nothingness that was both beautiful and disconcerting simultaneously. There were pictures of the Boston marathon bombs, of wrestlers and their mothers, of organized murders in Mexico, of families taking cover on the ground of Nairobi's Westgate Mall during the massacre and incredible shots of Syrian rebel fighters taking cover from Syrian army amid debris. The images really were incredible and showed the full range of human experience. I could spend hours staring into the eyes of these timeless pictured moments.

The exhibition could really do with some video coverage, asking the viewers which photos stood out, which told a story, what they thought of certain photos. It could make a great video by engaging audience members with the photography and really making them think, just as the photographers intended.


There are so many images I couldn't include in this blog that completely broaden your perspective on life so explore them all for yourself. If you missed the exhibition at the Royal festival Hall, then visit: http://www.worldpressphoto.org/awards/2014

Last Train to Tomorrow

Holocaust Educational Trust Regional Ambassadors

On Remembrance Sunday, 9th November, I rounded off a busy week with a trip with fellow HET Regional Ambassador Emma Raynor, to the Roundhouse, to see the premiere of the musical performance 'Last Train to Tomorrow' composed and conducted by the internationally acclaimed Carl Davis.

The evening fell on the 75th anniversary of Kristallnacht as the programme followed a dramatic and moving portrayal of the journey of the Kinder as they fled Nazi oppression over 70yrs ago. The evening held much resonance in the wake of the upcoming 70th anniversary of the liberation of many concentration camps, where many, if not all, relatives of the kinder were murdered. Prince Charles himself attended, after a busy remembrance Sunday schedule and met personally with those members of the kinder present at the premiere. Hosting the event, was Natasha Kaplinsky, also a member of the recently formed Prime Minister's Holocaust Commission. Perhaps most notably, members of the Kinder themselves were present and as the evening unfolded, with children singing and reenacting the difficult journey that came with Kindertransport, the audience were treated to an authentic performance with immensely powerful connotations as we sat side by side in the auditorium.

Children of the Choir

The voices of the children were remarkable. I don't want to be the one who says that they were sensational for their age, but they were. You just don't expect a flawless soprano to come from a 12yr old girl. There were of course a few whose vocals were perhaps not flawless, but it actually added to the authenticity of the journey, not knowing where they were going, who to speak to or quite how loud to speak out. It was incredibly moving to know that we shared this premiere with those who had lived through the ordeal, particularly as I have always had a great interest in the story of the Kinder, having grown-up in the hometown of a man known by all at the roundhouse that evening, Sir Nicholas Winton.

Last Train to Tomorrow

After the show I ran into Hermann Hirschberger a member of the Kinder, whom I've seen at many events but I've never had the pleasure of speaking to him. He spoke very highly of the performance and said he'd see me at the next event. I'll hold him to that! The premiere meant a great deal to the kinder and all wanted a souvenir programme but they very very quickly ran out. I gave mine to the grandson of one of the Kinder as I figured it meant a lot more to him than it would to me. But for all those still left without one, you can now send a cheque of £5 to AJR to receive one as they're printing more: http://www.ajr.org.uk/latest-news/article.1421

A really wonderful evening that carried me away with emotion and left me astounded by the talents and the courage of so many children, both past and present. A proud moment for British history and one that will help continue to carve the legacy of the wonderful people who made Kindertransport possible. A moment I'm very much glad to have been a part of in some way.

Zalika

Short film Zalika is just 10mins long and yet in that tiny amount of time, director Corinne Kempa manages to portray a mother's love for her child better than in most films that ever make it to the big screen.

I wanted it to last longer. I wanted it to be a feature, because the tender moments shared between this mother and her adopted child, were so authentic, that the love almost leaked out of my laptop screen.

Really well cast, Valerie Kaprisky as the mother was brilliant and really carried the story through it's short running time. I would love, for it to become a feature film. There is so much that could be developed, so many opportunities to change and adapt Zalika's identity and the opportunity also to make a true statement about not having to be a blood relation to love a child dearly.

Great music, great script and wonderfully directed. I want more!

You can watch Zalika for yourself here for just £1.99: https://distrify.com/films/6763

The Baby Born in a Concentration Camp

Eva Clarke - Born in Mauthausen Concentration Camp

On Wednesday 26th November I had the honour of listening to Eva Clarke, who shared with me, and a room filled with fellow Regional Ambassadors for the Holocaust Educational Trust, her truly unbelievable survival story. Unfortunately her mother Anka Bergman passed away last year but there is still a way we can hear from her for ourselves.

In 2013 the BBC made a short documentary film about their incredible story where Anka gets to tell us for herself, how she survived. I never fail to be blown away by the humble and tender nature of holocaust survivors, having been through and seen so much of humanity's darkest hours. Anka turned up on her cousins doorstep after the war, babe in arms and desperate. The film is a wonderful testament to Anka and those who took her in as she can no longer hold back the tears at how grateful she is for their kindness.

It does have its short falls. There is a lack of original archive. The image of young Anka is used too often and the story is driven by interviews rather than interviews being added to help contextualize the piece or add to it's impact. The film looks to have had a tight turn around and for that reason, I find it hard to fault the rest of the film. It would have been nice to see the two contributors together though. They are talking about a story that concerns them both, and concerns their love and respect for each other, but we don't get to see them together beyond the opening shot. That would have added to the film I think. 

Anka Bergman - gave birth unaided whilst weighing approx 5 stone

Documentary aside, Anka is an incredible woman. To have given birth twice within the 4yrs she suffered under Nazi persecution, and to have survived Theresienstadt, Auschwitz AND Mauthausen, whilst barely 5 stone and giving birth unaided to a 3 pound baby. It really was a miracle that both Anka and Eva survived to tell us the tale for themselves, and tell it together.

Eva Clarke, is a really wonderful lady too. She sat among the circle of Regional Ambassadors with the Holocaust Educational trust to listen to our plans for 2015: the 70th anniversary year of the liberation of so many camps, including the infamous Auschwitz. Eva shared that she was almost moved to tears as we, who are all under the age of 26, shared our plans for preserving her mother's memory and so many others. We share a very close relationship with survivors of the holocaust and 2015 is our chance to show them all how grateful we are that they share their stories with us and how committed we are to ensuring that they are not forgotten. Documentaries like this one, can only help us in our aims to embrace 'Keeping the Memory Alive' (the theme of this year's holocaust memorial day - which coincidentally is the week of Eva's 70th birthday and the 70th anniversary year of the liberation), as we try to increase the resources available and ensure that in the coming years, as the survivor community lessens, that their stories and lessons are carried forward.

You can watch the film here:  

If you are interested in hearing more holocaust survivor testimonies, please watch my film 'After Auschwitz' here: https://vimeo.com/101650543

And please visit: http://collections.ushmm.org/search/