Rachel

Rachel toured throughout 2019

A story of resilience. A story hidden. A story now shared offering hope for us all.

Small Nose and Trestle wove together intricate full mask theatre with, elements of clowning, to share this incredibly moving performance of Rachel, the story of Mrs Rachel Levy, a Holocaust survivor.

With great generosity, Rachel gave Small Nose Productions her story. Rachel experienced Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp and Bergen-Belsen; her resilience and survival from the worst horror our world has ever seen are extraordinary. Small Nose and Trestle were immensely proud to deliver this production into theatres, schools and community spaces, so they could pass on the gift of Rachel’s story to as many people as they could reach.

Audiences used the words Breathtaking, Beautiful, Poised, Heartfelt, Distressing, Effective, Powerful, Engrossing, Sinister and Necessary to describe the show. After seeing the first performance, Rachel said: ‘I was lost in it. It brought out most of the tragedy of the story…I re-lived every part of it.’

Both companies are also excited by the delivery of a well-designed and detailed educational offer for schools, including workshops and resources that support the curriculum and build character.

Mark Curtis of Small Nose said ‘the educational workshops support and allow participants to experience the key learning points that Rachel’s story offers. The lessons of the Holocaust are for us all and we want to share this vital, timely and wonderful educational package with as many people as we can.’

The Performance Company

Rachel Levy: Mercè Ribot
Mother, Aunty Rachel, Zeldie: Mark Curtis
Brother, Nazi soldier, Guard, Irma Grese, Accordion Player: Tom Fox
Father, Villager, Nazi soldier, Guard, Cook, Josef Mengele, Belsen Man: Jason Mitchell

Rachel has been devised by the Company with:

Director Emily Gray
Designer Sophia Lovell Smith
Mask Maker Joseph Arm, supported by Joe Martin
Composer Joseph Finlay
Dramaturg Carl Miller
Production Manager Bryony Byrne
Lighting Designer Jake Merrill
ASM and projection design Chloe Sainsbury
Production support Sarah Hunter
Graphic design Mark Griffin
Marketing Rhian Desborough
Education support Helen Barnett

Musicians

Violin Violeta Barrena
Cello Francesca Ter-Berg
Piano Joseph Finlay

Rachel was made possible through funding from Arts Council England Project Grant, Lewisham Council Small and Faith fund, Jewish Community donation, Holocaust Centre, Laxton.