Kindertransport

Diane Samuels' Kindertransport tells the poignant story of Eva, a Jewish girl separated from her parents and her struggle to find belonging in a new world.

In Kindertransport, Diane Samuels explores the profound emotional journey of a young girl named Eva, who is forcibly separated from her German Jewish parents at the tender age of nine. The story unfolds as Eva is brought to England under the guise of a new beginning, yet she grapples with the haunting memories of her past. As the narrative progresses, we witness her struggle to adapt to a foreign land while trying to preserve the fragments of her identity that connect her to her family and heritage.

Set against the backdrop of the late 1930s, the play delves into the historical context of the Kindertransport initiative, which saw nearly 10,000 Jewish children taken from their homes in Nazi-occupied Germany and placed with foster families in Britain. Samuels masterfully illustrates the emotional turmoil faced by these children, who were often left with a sense of loss and abandonment. Kindertransport serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human spirit amid the horrors of war and displacement.

The play has garnered significant acclaim since its premiere, winning the Verity Bargate Award in 1992 and the Meyer-Whitworth Award the following year. It has been staged multiple times, with notable productions that have brought the story to new audiences. This edition also features personal memoirs from those who experienced the Kindertransport, adding depth and authenticity to the narrative. Kindertransport continues to be a relevant and powerful exploration of identity, memory, and the impact of historical events on individual lives.