The Diary of Petr Ginz

Shrewsbury School at Fringe Fest '08

Expats.cz Staff

Written by Expats.cz Staff Published on 14.04.2008 16:56:26 (updated on 14.04.2008) Reading time: 2 minutes

THE DIARY OF PETR GINZ
adapted by Alex Went
performed by Shrewsbury School      
at the Prague Fringe Festival 26-30 May 2008

The explosion of the space shuttle Columbia in 2003 was an international tragedy. But it led to a significant and inspiring discovery: Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon had taken with him a drawing by a young Jewish boy from Hitler´s death-camps; and the news of the shuttle´s destruction led directly to the discovery of the boy´s diary, lying forgotten in a Prague attic.

Like the Diary of Anne Frank, Petr´s journal paints a vivid picture of ordinary family life at an extraordinary time.  Prague is an occupied city, with the feared Reinhart Heydrich at its helm. Streets and newspapers are filled with acts of sabotage, courage and defiance against a brutal regime. But as the months pass, a terrible fear descends. Friends and relations are summoned every day to the Transport trains which will take them first to Theresienstadt and later to the concentration camps in Poland.

But despite the terror, young Petr Ginz lives his life as he always has: drawing, writing, joking, experimenting: he wants to be a scientist, a novelist, a world-famous explorer. His diary is a record of extraordinary personal resistance, and a testament to a loving family who wait with him, while the world turns dizzily around, for a knock upon the door.

Alex Went has adapted this work from the diary – the first dramatization to be approved by Petr´s sister Eva – and will direct the play at this year´s Prague Fringe Festival.  He has a reputation as an adapter of work for Fringe theatre and recently won praise for his version of Bohumil Hrabal´s ‘Too Loud a Solitude´.

Shrewsbury School is one of England’s oldest and largest boys’ boarding schools, set high on the banks of the River Severn in Shropshire and overlooking an ancient town. The school prides itself on the quality of its theatrical productions, which are held in high regard at the Edinburgh Festival, where they tour every two years, and increasingly in London, where two home-grown musicals have been presented at Covent Garden.

For further information on The Diary of Petr Ginz,  please visit
www.closelyobservedproductions.blogspot.com

***

Welcome to the citys eagerly awaited annual marathon of theatre, dance, comedy, music and film from around the globe. All shows are in English, Czech or are non-verbal and are programmed so that you can see up to 6 shows a day and over 30 shows over the 8 days of Fringe Festival Praha. Shows take place from the afternoon to late evening, most last for an hour or so with time between to zip from venue to venue and grab a bite to eat. Enjoy a warm welcome at our fringe club where you can join the fun, meet the artists and swap notes with other fringe goers on your “hot tickets” for the day…its the fringe way from Edinburgh to Adelaide, now entering year seven here in Prague.

AGENCY PROPERTIES

Apartment for rent, 2+kk - 1 bedroom, 56m<sup>2</sup>

Apartment for rent, 2+kk - 1 bedroom, 56m2

Malkovského, Praha 9 - Letňany

Apartment for rent, 3+1 - 2 bedrooms, 100m<sup>2</sup>

Apartment for rent, 3+1 - 2 bedrooms, 100m2

Pštrossova, Praha 1 - Nové Město

Apartment for rent, 1+KK - Studio, 23m<sup>2</sup>

Apartment for rent, 1+KK - Studio, 23m2

Bítovská, Praha 4 - Michle

Tickets are 150 CZK.
Student tickets 50 CZK (only available on the door, on the day).

Fringe Voucher for 5 tickets available at Tickestream and can be exchanged for tickets on the day for 600 CZK (including handling fee) (ie 120 CZK per ticket)

Celebrate the arrival of the Fringe! Sunday May 25th – all tickets only 100 CZK

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