Kindertransport Flashcards
Themes of Kindertransport
Fear
Identity
Mother-Daughter Relationship
Separation and Loss
Secrets
Gift of Time
What influenced Diane Samuel’s to write Kinder Transport
She is Jewish
Young mother - 1 year old, pregnant with second child
Saw a TV documentary about survivors - Children felt guilty about their survival
Had a friend who didn’t know their mother had been in Auschwitz
Artistic Intention of Kindertransport
The play explores the impact on mother-daughter relationships across generations
Significant moments in Kindertransport
Main moments:
Eva and Helga sewing on buttons
Eva and the Nazi Border Official
Eva and the Postman
Eva reuniting with Helga
Extra moments:
Evelyn protecting Eva from the Ratcatcher
Eva and the British Organiser
Significance of Eva and Helga sewing buttons
Germany - 1939
Eva preparing to leave on the kindertransport
There is no time left for Eva to learn this with Helga so she must learn it now
Significance of Eva and the Nazi Border Official
9 year old, Jewish Eva alone on the Kindertransport is confronted by Nazi Border Official
Significance of Eva and the Postman
In Manchester, a British postman delivers a parcel from Helga to Eva.
His stereotypical views make her feel conspicuous and uncomfortable as
a German.
Significance of Helga and Evelyn reuniting
8 years later when Eva is 17, Helga returns for Eva who tells her she has been naturalised as English, adopted by the Millers(Lil’s family) & called Evelyn. She says she would have rather died with Helga than have to lived without her
Ideas that represent the theme of loss and separation
Lots of clocks around the stage - To represent lost time/ Running out of time
Train tracks - To represent the separation of family’s during WW2 - Kindertransport
Shoes beneath a raised a stage - Represents the historical loss of life during the holocaust in the concentration camps in Germany
The Abyss - Trapdoor
Ideas that represent the theme of fear
Swastika - Represents the cultural reason why Eva had to leave Germany - She was Jewish
Ratcatcher - Embodiement of Eva’s fear
Ideas that represent the theme of secrets
Dusty attic - Represents Evelyn’s psyche = Repressed memories
Closed boxes
Locked door
Ideas to represent the theme of identity
Star of David - Represents Eva German-Jewish heritage
Swastika - Represents the reason why Eva had to leave Germany because of her heritage
Name all the set ideas in Kindertransport
Open/Closed boxes - To show how secrets are being revealed
Train Tracks
Abyss - Trapdoor
Shoes beneath a raised stage
Star of David
Lots of clocks around the stage
Closed Door
Style of Kindertransport
Naturalism - Set of the attic
Expressionism - Eva’s fear - Ratcatcher
Why would you use End on for Kindertransport
Advantages:
Large Props that don’t interfere with sight lines - E.g Massive piles of boxes, Grandfather clock, Attic beams and walls of attic
Different time periods - Represent 1939/1940s and late 1980s
Audience can see connections and interactions better - Mother-daughter relationships
Large naturalistic set design - Set in an attic
Disadvantages:
Audience being distanced from intimate moments
Why would you use Traverse staging for Kindertransport
Advantages:
Turn entire stage into train tracks
Time periods - Split stage down the middle one side past the other present
Convey separation and loss more easily
Disadvantages:
Limits projection
Attic representation is very difficult
Sight lines may be ruined due to large props
Why would you use Thrust staging for Kindertransport
Advantages:
Projection of imagery on cyclorama - Shadow of Ratcatcher
Downstage and Upstage distinction - 2 time frames
Able to create naturalistic attic - Includes beams and piles of boxes upstage
Allows close proximity of audience
Able to see facial expressions clearly and impact the character is feeling
Seamless transitions
Disadvantages:
Large set ideas - Impact sight lines and create an unbalanced set design
Downstage has potential to block sight lines and block facial expressions
Entrances and exits only possible upstage - Results in confusion of time variation
Why would you use In the round staging for Kindertransport
Advantages:
More intimate moments with the audience
Disadvantages:
Large set ideas impact audience sightlines
Why would you use promenade staging for Kindertransport
Advantages:
Large naturalistic design
Ratcatcher lurking in the audience
Disadvantages:
Harder entrances and exits
Audience have to move with the actors
Lighting ideas for Eva and the Nazi Border Official
Swastika OR British flag - Projection/Gobo - To represent who has control over her fate
Warm sepia coloured gel - Fresnel - To create a rectangular of bright light to suggest the train
Barn doors - To help imitate the surroundings of a train
Strobe lights - Flickering to show movements of the train
Blue faint enclosed spotlight - Shows Eva’s fear and isolation
Back light on NBO - Creates shadow that links to ratcatcher
Lighting ideas for Eva and the Postman
Star of David - Projection
Birdie: To make the Postman seem bigger - Abnormal in size representing Ratcatcher
Dark Blue Enclosed Spotlight - On Eva
White large spotlight - Around Postman
Lighting ideas for Helga and Eva sewing/reuniting
Sewing:
Ratcatcher shadows - Projection - Represents how it’s always lurking
Warm sepia coloured gel for the past
White/Blue coloured gel for the present
Reuniting:
Dark Blue spotlight - Symbolic of loss - Two separate spotlights at the end of the play to highlight the separation between Helga and Eva
Gobo - Creates a large shadow of the Ratcatcher falling over Helga and Eva
Gobo - Ratcatcher tail - Represents how Helga is the Ratcatcher
Costume ideas for Eva
Hair in Germanic plaits - Represent youth
Oversized waistcoat with a missing button - Represents how she will now have time to grow into it and how she didn’t quite become independent in time
Number tag 3362 - Represents how the Jewish were dehumanised by Nazis
Star of David Necklace
Long socks - Cotton
Tailored Shoes
Long skirt - Made of silk
Costume for Helga
Start:
Hairstyle - Short waved hair - To communicate the popular hairstyle of the 1930s
Star of David Necklace
Mid-length dress - Satin, Tailored - Indicates wealth
Black heals - Tailored
End:
Wearing a headscarf
Shoes - Poorly made
Damaged waistcoat
