Plug-In: Fighting For Life
Fighting for Life takes to the stage tomorrow at the Pagoda Arts Centre as the first instalment of a trilogy of plays by writer, Karen Rachel Kennedy, known as “Stolen Lives.”
The Stolen Lives series takes place during the Second World War and is set in Paris from 1940 until 1943.
Featuring an ensemble cast directed by Wayne Stuart-Cole, you will meet the French Resistance as they perform various missions in conjunction with the British Special Operations Executive against the Germans who are occupying Paris, enforcing an 8pm curfew and establishing the Third Reich.
The play is set in and around Inga’s café. The half-German, half-French widow has her loyalties tested when Nazi, Bruno, starts to make romantic overtures, something which puts a strain on her friendship with freedom fighters, Margot and Chantal, who look up to her as a maternal figure.
Meanwhile Oberscharführer Hans Koch is hatching an evil plan and aims to tempt away one of the Resistors to serve his own ends, some of whom meet danger head on and may or may not survive. The play adopts the premise of ordinary lives, extraordinary situations with the entire emotional spectrum on full display.
The audience will also be transported to the “Hot Club de Paris” where they will be treated to one of two original songs written and composed by Karen Rachel Kennedy especially for the play, as well as a song you will recognise and love.
Fighting For Life is a labour of love for Karen as well as a community project, since For Life Productions has brought together a unique cast of experienced actors as well as providing two internships for LIPA students. The company has a further five interns in the production team.
Creative Wire spoke to Karen about her inspiration for the play and why she decided to focus it on the French Resistance. She describes herself as a post-war baby, her parents just eight and five years old when war broke out. She grew up in Liverpool with their recollections about the war, hearing stories about the Blitz, rationing and watching a black and white film with Grandma Hannah called Carve Her Name with Pride, a “true story film of the life of French Resistance spy, Violette Szabo, who trained in Britain with the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) before being sent back into Nazi-occupied France in WW11.”
“My Dad told me the family across his home was bombed in a Liverpool Blitz and the entire family was killed instantly. My Parents childhood was spent in air raid shelters and the experience never left them for the rest of their lives. My late paternal Uncle Eric was 13 when WWII broke out in Britain & was sent to Bangor, Wales to avoid the bombing in Liverpool.”
As well as growing up with a rich tapestry of stories about living through the war, Grandma Edna discovering peanut butter and Uncle Ralph inventing a type of morse code from his sickbed, Karen learnt what the British Special Operations executive was from the tender age of six. It’s evidently left an indelible mark on her life, which explains why she grasped the opportunity with both hands when John Gorman offered her her first playwriting commission over 6 years ago: a story about Auschwitz and conductor/musician, Alma Marie Rose.
We asked Karen why she thinks audiences will take away from a play about the French Resistance:
“Sadly, the FFL audience will take away that although 80 years have passed since the end of the war, we as a Global society have gone backwards. I write because we are dealing with wars all over the world.
“When my generation passes there won't be people who had parents or grandparents who went through WW11. The written word transcends through time.”
“The good things the FFL audience will take away is how ordinary people became heroes and heroines. In FFL we see the human side of war from both sides, from the French side and German side. We see people fall in love, divided loyalties, betrayal, greed, collaboration… all while trying to stay alive every day.
“But most of all, the FFL audience will realise that the French, British and Allied Forces had no choice but to fight and resist against the Third Reich Regime. It is no different from what is happening today.”
As well as being a writer, Karen brings her musical background and production expertise to the play and she also portrays Karina, a cabaret singer at the Hot Club de Paris. This means she’s had a unique insight into the rehearsal process, compared to other playwrights. So, what can she divulge?
“Rehearsals have been fun & a gamut of emotions has occurred for all of us involved in the Production of the FFL play. Our ‘Herr Director’ Wayne, has kept us all on pace and on our toes.”
There are two showings of Fighting For Life on Saturday 16th March at the Pagoda Arts Centre, Liverpool. There are still tickets available for the matinée at 3.30pm and the evening performance at 7.00pm. Book online to avoid disappointment.
www.ticketsource.co.uk/fightforlife
Covered by Kirsten Hawkins