ALONE IN BERLIN
Giving a voice to two brave resistance fighters in Nazi Germany
Adapted from Hans Fallada ’ s novel , Alone in Berlin follows the compelling story of a couple who resist the Nazi regime . Upon hearing of their son ’ s death , Otto and Anna Quangel ( played by Frank Qi and Olivia Pigram ), begin writing and distributing anti- Nazi postcards , risking their lives to the Gestapo .
Alone in Berlin was my first play at Sevenoaks and it was a huge privilege to be a part of such a dedicated and excited cast . We were led by co-directors Mrs Hargreaves and Mr Harvey , whose enthusiasm for the novel inspired us from beginning to end .
Among the reasons why the show was so special was that it allowed us to tell a story inspired by real people , giving a voice to two brave resistance fighters .
The play was also exceptional as it fused music and drama . The creative storytelling through cabaret singers Goldie and Elsie ( Natty O ’ Doherty-Veru and Sophia Lemos Kernan ), brought a truly unique perspective to the play . On top of this , the music was composed by members of our very own Music department : Mr Dyer , Miss Roux and Ellie Curson ( Lower Sixth ). Along with these talented musicians , we were so grateful for Miss Grant ’ s constant dedication to putting together 1930s costumes and making sure everyone ’ s hair was slicked back on performance nights . The technicians ’ teamwork and the patience of the backstage team were also essential in making sure the performances ran smoothly .
On the first night , we received a very warm welcome from the audience , who were laughing hysterically at the back and forth between Bokhausen and Kluge ( played by Lakshya Lokwani and Jonjo Hodson ). This was balanced with hard-hitting emotional moments between the Quangels , captured outstandingly by Frank and Olivia . We enjoyed the performances as much as the audience , dancing and singing along together backstage each night as the songs were being performed .
As we took the final bow , we felt extremely proud of the months of hard work we had put into the show , which had culminated in a lively , gripping story . We brought the production to a close by thanking our talented directors with a note on one of Otto and Anna Quangel ’ s postcards .
Jemma Watts , Lower Sixth
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