Etty... in transit
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival
8th August - 27th August 2024 (not Sundays)
Venue 267 — Old St Pauls Church, EH1 1DH
at 5pm
Ticket Website: tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/etty-in-transit
'Something else about this morning: the perception, very strongly borne,
that despite all the suffering and injustice,
I cannot hate others.'
Etty Hillesum
"Every so often a play comes along that moves you like no other. This story, Sarah's performance and every aspect of this beautifully designed multimedia
production open up a luminous portal to the extraordinary life, writings and soul of Etty Hillesum."
Justin Butcher - Scaramouche Jones
Etty... in transit is a story which brings hope. In the face of the utter horrors of the Nazi genocide. Etty emerges as a beacon of courage and light and her writings are more than relevant today in a world still ravaged by hatred and destruction. The play marks the 80th anniversary of Etty's death in Auschwitz on November 30th 1943 and is created in association with 'the Lions part'.
Etty... in transit is a new multimedia production based on the diaries of Etty Hillesum (1914-1943). It charts the journey of two lives that interweave throughout the play. Sam Edwards is a mature fashion model with mental health difficulties who vlogs to her followers during the first lockdown of 2020. Isolated in her flat she discovers the diaries of Etty Hillesum and begins to devour them, appearing in projected videos. Etty appears live through a verbatim script from The Diaries of Etty Hillesum.
This production is atmospheric, dynamic and performed by Sarah Finch (RSC, BBC) in a two-room immersive setting. Script adaptation by Paul Gateshill, set design is by Ignacio Llamas (Best Living Spanish Artist, ARCO, 2016), film, sound and tech management by Ashleigh Aston & Gareth Price-Baghurst, and music & composition by Paul Gateshill and Tamsin Lewis.
Feedback from the staged readings:
"Despite the tragedy it is hopeful and uplifting - the triumph of the human spirit. Very powerful."
"The atmosphere created by cast and crew sustained the emotional tension."
"I revelled in the work you have produced and at times was moved practically to tears and to deep reflection."
"It gave me particular joy to feel that beyond the terrible suffering, Etty could see a drop of light, hope. It makes me want to read her diaries."
The initial run was at The Crypt from 30th November to 10th December 2023
with a second run from 21st May - 2nd June 2024
