Heroes

Eileen Nearne Mourned today

Crowds of people have paid their respects to World War II heroine Eileen Nearne during her funeral in Devon.  Mourners lined the streets of Torquay for the funeral of Miss Nearne, whose daring wartime spy work came to light following her death on 2 September.The fluent French speaker was captured three times by the Germans and endured spells in concentration camps, managing to escape each time.  She was due to have a council funeral but these plans changed as a result of the publicity about her past.Military charities donated cash and a local funeral director offered to fund a service more befitting a war heroine.
 
Hannah Sara Rigler’s story of survival is a remarkable one, even by the standards of the dark times she witnessed.
Now in her 80s, the still bright-eyed woman is currently in Britain, perhaps for the last time, telling schoolchildren how British prisoners of war saved her life during World War II. She was born in 1928 as Sara Matuson – later changing her name in honour of her sister who died in the Holocaust – into a Jewish family which had recently returned home to Lithuania following an abortive attempt to emigrate to Palestine. But her family life was destroyed following the Nazi occupation in the summer of 1941. Her father was taken away, never to be seen again. With the war coming to an end the camp’s women – with no food, dressed in rags and with only wooden clogs on their feet – were driven by SS guards in a death march through the snow towards the Baltic sea.  With no hope in sight, Sara’s mother, Gita, begged her to try to escape.
Armed with a diamond ring smuggled by her mother, Hannah attempted to buy some bread from a Polish boy, only to be arrested by the police and threatened with public execution. “Then I went into a barn and I lay down in a trough. And then a man came into the barn and I said to him: ‘Are you Polish?’… and he said: ‘No, I’m British.’ And that was Stan Wells.”
Shortly afterwards the POWs, who were about to be evacuated to Germany, placed Sara in the care of a local woman, who looked after her until she was liberated by the Red Army.
But freedom proved to be bittersweet. Hannah discovered that she was her family’s only survivor: her father, mother, sister, two uncles, four aunts and six cousins were all killed in the Holocaust.

Both of the above stories were taken from the BBC News Page today – fascinated by both of them, the themes resonating with “I’m No Hero” and illustrating the strengths and accomplishments of women – so rarely celebrated.

And then on the radio this morning was also the story of Ingrid Betancourt a small, slight, well-coutured. Formerly a Colombian presidential candidate, she spent six years in captivity,the only outward sign of her ordeal is the rough crucifix she wears around her wrist – she fashioned it out of rope in the jungle – and, if you stare impertinently, some small marks around her neck where a chain once lay. For the last 18 months she has been working on a book, which has meant going back daily to her experiences as a hostage. “It was torture,” says the 48-year-old. “It was very difficult to write.”

The above is an extract from The Guardian – its all food for thought…..

When the lights go off….

Well the lights went off two weeks ago, and my reflections on the whole Edinburgh Fringe Festival experience are that overall of course it was an amazing experience, it was worthwhile doing and it took a hell of a lot of hard work and a great team of friends and professional colleagues around me to pull it off – so THANK YOU!

The Critics said:

5 STARS in BROADWAY BABY:

 “a tremendous show, a profound and insightful gem…. Hunt’s performance is compelling, imbued with a rare empathy and compassion…Here, by slow degrees, Hunt allows us to think once more the thoughts of those we regard as heroes, who in their own minds thought common thoughts, but in ours performed unthinkable deeds”    Roy Haywood 23/08/10

 

“ an affecting and effective performance”

4 STARS

“Ava Hunt gives an inspiring, thought-provoking performance in this one woman show……..This play is both a celebration and an education, stirring and sincere, and a piece I’m sure both of its subject would be proud of.”

Deborah Klayman 12/08/10

The Audience said:

Hello
 It is with great pleasure that I have watched your performance in the festival. I have spent two weeks in Edinburgh, watched many perfomances but the one I retain on top is yours.  Being Tunisian, I am particularly sensitive to the Palestinian tragedy and it is so moving to see that other human beings are not indifferent to injustice.
 I cried all the show long, tears of sadness at so much suffering and of joy that some people still retain enough intelligence and humanity to speak about silenced matters.  The exceptionality of the show is not only its subject matter but the artistry with which you found the right tone and the perfect balance to create the mirroring effect between the two stories.  Thank you so much, you are also an ordinary person doing an extraordianry thing for people you don’t even know.
 
All the best
Hajer

Two Performances left

Only two performances left, and the whole Edinburgh experience is coming to an end.  Performances are going really well, had some good reviews – “inspiring, and thought-provoking performance” (Public Reviews – on-line) and although audiences have been small, they have been appreciative and had some great feedback.  Plus it’s just the whole atmosphere – bumping into old friends, seeing shows and great conversations with people on the streets – just exhausted!

An Edinburgh Journey of Discovery

Well, what can I say?  We’ve done five performances now at Edinburgh.  Friends and family have been there – in the audience, selling the show on the streets, keeping spirits high and willing the whole project on.  It’s been great.  The performances have settled down and Maggie has been pleased with them and it’s felt good.  Jeremy (our stage manager) has been such a star.  We’ve had a few laughs, some great conversations on the streets of Edinburgh, a few late nights, seen some other shows and a couple of drinks.

Audiences have been completely unpredictable – and despite some good reviews: 3 Stars in the Scotsman & 4 Stars in Public Reviews “inspiring, thought-provoking performance”….

This  journey…you see, I was getting really upset in the week when audiences were small, but last night they got as small as you could get – one woman – but she had been to Bosina as a humanitarian worker, she’d booked the ticketes 4 weeks ago from London – what could we do?  Say “can you come back tomorrow?”  After the show we chatted about Irena Sendler and Rachel Corrie and what it takes to help others whilst putting your life at risk. 

So here’s the question, what is this about?  Well, it’s about the show, and it’s about enjoying the experience, and it’s about not having a picture in your head of what it SHOULD look like…..

I know this blog won’t be read, the Twitters, will be lost in the millions, that the flyers might land in the hands of some potential audiences – and I just have to find them – or not –  but I’m one woman, ultimately, and that in the end has to be enough – doesn’t it?

Reviews

Two shows in and two reviewers have seen the show – The Scotsman and Public Reviews – just waiting for them to come out.  But have been told that one is a 4 Star!  GREAT NEWS!

Thank you to Marcus for plugging the show on BBC Radio Humberside – audiences are small but well received and the show is going well. 

The space is great and the get-in/turnaround time is fine!  After the show last night went and saw a bit of late night comedy, quick drink and then the night bus home! 

Back out pounding the streets again today – the Half Price Hut opens so fingers crossed that generates more audiences today.

At Last! In Edinburgh!

Well, after months – or actually what feels like years – all the planning and preparations have finally culminated in time catapulting us into the middle of the Festival – and it’s fantastic!  It’s a great atmosphere – still settling in a bit trying to find our feet.  Met up with various reviewers yesterday at Festival Central office – everyone very nice there – loads of people dressed in the most outrageous costumes, get up’s and outfits – Maggie said it didn’t impress her much! 

Accommodation is fine – it’s out of town a bit but we have space, safe parking for the van and no rowdy drunk people singing outside the window all night – which after Friday night in Hull is a plus!

Oh and Maggie’s bag that was stolen on Thursday night in Hull was found by the Police!  So we’ve got the fringe book back and the script – unfortunately, we’re in Edinburgh now and the bag’s in Hull … oh well….

So tonight after the get-in & fit up at 5pm at the theatre -I think a drink might be in order – a mini pre-celebratory drink on getting here – on time, in tact and up for it!!!!

BRING IT ON!!!

Press Coverage

Article about the show in Hull Daily Mail today – good article too!  Rehearsals gone well – notes and two run throughs and a comfortable schedule planned for tomorrow – on the down side Maggie (Director) and I had a meal to chill and reflect after a long day only to find her car had been broken into and bag stolen – camera, script, notes etc all gone!  Not a great way to finish the day.  Hull Police were very helpful, but not a great way to end the day…

Audience for Hull Truck Theatre is now sounding great – so excited about that. 

Had loads of messages from friends by text, facebook and email wishing me good luck/break a leg etc – really lovely to hear from people.  Just have to keep focused on getting audiences in Edinburgh….

48 hours before the Preview!

It’s been a day of trying to stay focussed on the things in hand whilst in the back of my mind, trying to remember all the shed loads of detail – the problems of producing.  Got the soil, painted the box, forgot the banners, went into The Pound Shop to get some batteries but convinced it was a con – and actually asked the shop assistant how much they cost?  The reply?  “A pound – this is the POUND shop!”  Of course in hindsight it was a stupid question – but I just was convinced there was some hidden marketing trick!  Red faced I left with my batteries and another prop that I can now tick off my list. 

Audience at Hull Truck starting to look quite healthy now – so am going to stop worrying about that, and worry about audiences in Edinburgh now!  Seems a sensible thing to do!  Hmmm

Got the tinned soup, the tins of baked beans, the packets of pasta from Lidel tonight well that’s a start cos eating out every night in Edinburgh is not an option. 

Got a bit snarled up with me Tweeting – well twittered!

My blog I hope is not too much blagging and after 85 emails to various press contacts it’s fingers crossed….

Cindy Corrie

Really excited now, yesterday went well, and pleased with how new material on Cindy Corrie worked.  Looking forward to running the show on Thursday, a few tweaks to go on a couple of sections, and then just really running the show.  Plus must get a bag of soil, a torch, a couple of  onions and some birthday cards… (the cards are just for everyone I know who also has a birthday in August!) – the previous list is actually the props for the show not a list of items needed for an act of terrorisim -

Just a quick political comment – while I’m here never thought I’d be acknowledging a Conservative Prime Minister for their comments on Foreign Policy – But hey! David Cameron! Supporting the people of Gaza – well there’s a turn up for the books….

Angels & Ideas

Another Angel came today – thank you!

Plus an idea! Bloody hell!  A marketing idea/corporate branding – all those other smug “going forward” expressions…. Anyway will run it past a few people and get cracking – rehearsals all day tomorrow – and press and media stuff to do tomorrow – OK it’s official it’s ALL GO!