[Williamb]

That's great news, Nigel! Please extend my congrats to Vanessa.

[Duncan Gillies MacLaurin]

I saw KAREN'S WAY on 20th August. My third road manager, Tamzin Hobday, was with me. (Jayne Osborn was my second one.) We both enjoyed the show tremendously, sustained as it is throughout by the moving atmosphere created by two excellent musicians and by the exquisitely performed running dialogue between the old Karen, played by Vanessa, and the young Karen, played by Lindsay Mace.

We went for a drink with Nigel, Vanessa and Lindsay afterwards and had a fine time.

Duncan

[Nigel Mace]

Just back to Leeds from the Edinburgh Festival. Against unbelievable odds (165 other shows in the theatre category alone at our time slot) KAREN'S WAY achieved c. 30% houses over two weeks. For those that don't know the brutal facts of Edinburgh audiences - average Fringe audience size is 7 - that meant that we got Karen Gershon's story more than four times the average audience over twelve performances and can feel that we did her poetic and personal memory proud.

Kindertransport survivors (3) and second generation survivors (3) made it to the show and each time gave it standing ovations - and their's is the opinion which, to us and to Stella Tripp (Karen's elder daughter), counted most. However, it also received an unusually well-informed 'rave' from the Jewish Chronicle, on the web at thejc.com - well worth a look, complete with a photograph.

As a result of the Edinburgh exposure, potential openings for the play text/production are now beginning to open up in Europe (2/3), in Australian broadcasting and on the stage in the US. More news when we have it - and in the meantime I hope that some of the site's members are beginning to rediscover this wonderful poet. (A revival of interest must be happening a bit as the Scottish Poetry Library reported some people coming in on the morning after our shows asking for her work.)

Best to all,
Nigel

[Jayne Osborn]

Nigel,
It was great to meet you and Vanessa - I'm only sorry I couldn't stick around in Edinburgh for long enough to see the play.

I'm delighted to hear of its success and I'm sure it will go from strength to strength.

All the best to you both,
Jayne

[Charlotte Innes]

Gosh, Nigel, this is amazing! I really hope this production can come to Los Angeles! Please say it will. I seem to have somehow have missed this thread by being away for most of the summer. But now I'm really curious about Karen Gershon's work. Thank you so much for all the detailed info.

I also have a personal interest in these matters, as my father escaped Nazi Germany on one of the last Kindertransports--if not the last one. He's 93 and still going strong! And I know that he and my stepmother would be very interested in seeing this. They live near Leicester, so if there's ever a production near there--or anywhere else in England for that matter--please let me know.

I also have a poetry project in mind that (when I can afford it) involves my going to Berlin (where my dad grew up) and to the Terezin/Theresienstadt camp (where my grandfather died). If you know of any organizations that might offer grants for a project like this, feel free to let me know.

Meanwhile, huge congratulations! If only I could have seen the play in Edinburgh. Lucky you, Duncan!

Charlotte

[Charlotte Innes]

Just a follow-up. I've discovered that six of Karen's books are in the Los Angeles Public Library, although not her collected poems--which are incredibly expensive on Amazon (U.S.)! However, she does get quite a decent entry in the Encyclopaedia of Holocaust Literature (Oryx Press, 2002) which I bought a few months ago for my own work.

I also just discovered today that a play called Kindertransport by Diane Samuels will be performed here in June by L.A. Theatre Works, at UCLA. I hadn't heard of it before, but apparently it was performed in London and New York in the early 90s. Do you know that play? Just curious!

At any rate, I do hope Karen's Way will come out here at some point!

Charlotte

PS: Just discovered Karen's books are MUCH cheaper at Amazon UK!

[Nigel Mace]

Good news about you being able to access Karen Gershon's works - and please spread the good news about the cheaper UK copies!

The Diane Samuels play is a very different piece being an entirely imagined construction on the general theme of the kindertransport and the effect of this on survivor to foster parent relationships - though a worthy examination of the theme as a whole.

I've PM'd you on more details and will give more on this thread on progress re Karen's so far unpublished work as soon as it becomes available.

Best,
Nigel