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The Most Precious of Goods

22 Jan

3 Feb

The Most Precious of Goods

Cast

To be announced

Samantha Spiro

Gemma Rosefield

Theatre

Creatives

Jean-Claude Grumberg

Writer

Nicolas Kent

Director/Translator

Carly Brownbridge

Designer

Judy Goldhill

Projected Photography

Matt Eagland

Lightning Designer

Don’t miss your chance to see The Most Precious of Goods, a ‘hypnotic and beautifully pitched’ (Theatrecat) story, set in the Second World War about family and belonging, and the search for love in the unlikeliest of places.

Samantha Spiro (One Life, Sex Education) is ‘a masterly storyteller’ (Theatrecat) in Jean-Claude Grumberg’s ‘hopeful tale’ (ReviewsHub) in this ‘superb’ (Upcoming) translation by Nicolas Kent, with atmospheric music provided by acclaimed cellist Gemma Rosefield.

Commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day this haunting production is not to be missed and must end Saturday 3 February.

Told with a fairy tale-like lyricism, this gripping story of love and hope, set against the terrible backdrop of the Holocaust, reminds us that humanity can be found in the most inhumane of places.

Winter 1943, a forest in war-torn Eastern Europe: a poor woodcutter’s wife finds a little bundle thrown into the snow from a moving goods train. It contains something for which she has always yearned, but…The Most Precious of Goods is translated from the original best-selling French novella by Nicolas Kent who also directs this British premiere production.  Design by Carly Brownbridge, projected photography by Judy Goldhill and lighting by Matt Eagland.

“A heartwarming vision of redemption”

Daily Mail

“Moving…

First a fable, then a potent reminder of the power of love,

then a potent reminder of the power of organised barbarism”

Sunday Times

“Profoundly moving”

Ham and High

“A tale of persecution, flight, death, love and asylum”

Observer

“I find it’s made me think more deeply than most plays do”

Evening Standard

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“A richly engaging performance from Samantha Spiro. A deceptively simple fable with profound depths of heart and humanity”
The I

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The words are gripping, the story is powerful and the message lingers in your head long after you leave the theatre
AllThatDazzles

“Quietly powerful…Samantha Spiro is a gripping storyteller”
Financial Times

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A heart-rending beautiful adaptation… If you want to understand more about hope, the resilience of love, how to retain your humanity in the face of evil and the fragile fight of hope against truly dark times then this play is for you”
Theatre&Tonic

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“A haunting, moving piece”
EverythingTheatre

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“A stunningly beautiful tale”
The Upcoming

️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Award-winning cellist Gemma Rosefield’s performance is a real highlight”
Fairy Powered Production

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“A reflective and admirably affecting production”
LondonTheatre1

Question and answer sessions hosted by Martin Spafford will take place after weekday schools matinees.

  • Saturday 27th January 2024 (3pm show) - Dame Maureen Lipman (Actress whose recent performances include Rose (television and West End) and currently Coronation Street), & Robert Rinder M.B.E (Barrister, Broadcaster and Author). Chaired by Suresh Grover (Co-Director of The Monitoring Group, one of the oldest anti-racist grassroots groups in Britain)
  • Monday 29th January 2024 (1:30pm show) - Gillian Walnes Perry M.B.E. (Author of The Legacy of Anne Frank)
  • Tuesday 30th January 2024 (1:30pm show) - Francesca Simon M.B.E. (Author of the Horrid Henry series of books)
  • Wednesday 31st January 2024 (1:30pm show) - Guest TBC
  • Thursday 1st February 2024 (1:30pm show) - Baroness Julia Neuberger D.B.E. (Rabbi)

About Martin Spafford

Martin Spafford is a retired secondary history teacher. He helped develop and write textbooks for the GCSE course on migration to Britain for the OCR exam board and has collaborated on community education projects with, among others, the Runnymede Trust, the Migration Museum and the Raphael Samuel History Centre. He has helped deliver the course on the Holocaust and Human Behaviour for Facing History and Ourselves and is currently a trustee and active volunteer with the human rights charity Journey to Justice, sharing untold stories of people challenging economic injustice in the UK and exploring the intersection of race and class. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Historical Association and the Schools History Project.

Holocaust Memorial Day

Holocaust Memorial Day takes place each year on 27th January. This date marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945, the largest Nazi death camp.

The term Holocaust refers specifically to the genocide of Jews. However, other groups experienced horrific and violent persecution by the Nazis, including Roma and Sinti people, Black people, Disabled people, Gay men, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Soviet civilians and prisoners of war, Polish citizens and political opponents of the Nazis.

We remember those murdered during more recent genocides in Cambodia (1975-1979), Rwanda (1994), Bosnia (1995) and Darfur (2003 – 2005), alongside the 6 million Jews murdered during the Holocaust as well as the millions of people murdered under Nazi persecution (1933-1945). Holocaust Memorial Day is for everyone- each year, thousands of people come together to learn more about the past and take action to create a safer future.

Production supported by: The Kobler Trust, Polonsky Foundation & John S. Cohen Foundation

Playing time 80 minutes, no interval

Age Guidance: 12+


For more information about the Ticket Refund Protection, please click HERE.