This summer, our University’s Parkes Institute for the Study of Jewish/non-Jewish Relations will present an evening celebrating the 75th anniversary of The King of Lampedusa (Der kenig fun lampeduse), London’s most famous Yiddish play, on Tuesday 4 June 2019 at Nuffield Southampton Theatre (NST).
The King of Lampedusa tells the incredible true story of an Italian garrison surrendering to a young Jewish pilot from the East End of London when he landed on the Italian island of Lampedusa during the Second World War. RAF Flight Sergeant Sydney Cohen became a hero back home and his story was turned into a hit musical.
Tickets are available to book here.
Photograph used with permission of the Jewish Museum London
The play was performed to audiences for almost six months following its opening at the Grand Palais Folks Theatre in 1943, and it is one of few surviving examples of an original Yiddish play to emerge from London’s East End.
The performance at NST will consist of rehearsed-readings of excerpts from the translated text, accompanied by recently rediscovered music from the original score, as well as talks from members of the Parkes Institute contextualising and exploring the significance of the play.
Join us to celebrate the 75th anniversary and relive a piece of theatre history!
For further information about the event, please contact Katie Power: [email protected]
