See trailer at https://vimeo.com/221411082
As the Labour Party argues over the definition of anti-Semitism* and the Israeli government approves a Jewish Nation State**, divisions deepen and boundaries blur.
All across Europe and the USA extremist views advance and the Far Right begins to creep into government.
Against this contemporary background, Smokescreen Productions offers a warning from history at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Mengeletakes us back to a beach in Brazil in 1979 when a drowning man is washed up on a beach where he meets a mysterious woman.
The play imagines the notorious doctor of Auschwitz confronted by the woman he assumes has saved him.
Josef Mengele, known in the camp as “The Angel of Death”, escaped justice after WW2 and escaped to South America.
The woman challenges him to attempt to justify the unjustifiable and in so doing exposes the rhetoric of a sociopathic narcissist, echoing arguments we hear again today.
Created following advice from the Holocaust Educational Trust and endorsed by the Amud Aish Museum of New York, Mengele seeks to engage, educate and provoke conversations about the issues of today as much as of the past.
A short run at Edinburgh last year was followed by an award to take the play to New York as a Fringe Encore winner, then on to a sell out season at Adelaide Fringe 2018.
Inspired by the novel Right to Die, the play is written by Philip Wharam and Tim Marriott, who also performs it with Stefanie Rossi and Emma Wingrove.
Mengele, the play, is inspired by and written to acknowledge the chilling truth expressed by Auschwitz survivor Lydia Tischlerwho said: “all of us have the capacity to be sadistic and horrible to other people. The potential for destructiveness is in all of us.”Marriott says:“It is vital for us to understand such men as Mengele, to learn from history, to stop others like them from rising again.”
Marriottis best known for seven series of BBC TV’s leisure centre sit-com The Brittas Empire, appearing in every episode as deputy manager, Gavin. Other TV credits include Allo Allo, Doctors, The Bill, An Actor’s Life for Me, The Main Event, Luv and film credits include the forthcoming features The Real Thing, Love Type D and Revelation. He recently returned to the stage after an 18-year career break teaching English and drama. He is also appearing in two other Fringe 2018 productions, Shell Shockand All Change.
Broadway World described the Mengele as “a contemporary expose of a charming manipulator and sociopathic narcissist”. In a five-star review The Adelaide Advertisersaid: “It is important, today as much as ever, and it is brilliant.”
Mengelehas earned critical praise in the UK and overseas. Australian Stagepraised the “sheer power of the writing and the mastery of the performances …”. Daily Businesscalled it: “a masterclass in acting and writing” ★★★★★.
Fringe Reviewsaid: “We cannot ignore this tale and it is a legacy we ought to be sharing with our children … It scared me. Such is the power of good theatre done well.” Highly Recommended. Other reviews include “Absolutely riveting” ★★★★★Broadway World (Australia), “A commanding performance… a masterclass” 4.5★ Adelaide Theatre Guide, “A tremendous performance… very good theatre” ★★★★ InDaily.
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Listings Details
- Venue: Assembly George Square Theatre, The Box, EH8 9JZ (Venue 8)
- Time: 12:20
- Duration: 50 mins
- Dates: 2-8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, August. Previews 2,3 August.
- Tickets: Previews £10 (£9); 11-27 August £12 (£11);
- Bookings: at https://bit.ly/2L2KijIor assemblyfestival.com. Call 0131 623 3030 or go to Assembly box offices at Assembly Hall and Assembly Roxy, Assembly George Square, Assembly Checkpoint and Assembly Rooms
- Suitability: 12+
About Smokescreen Productions
- Smokescreen Productions create impactful, thematic theatre, working with national charities to bring contemporary issues to life on stage,designed to engage audiences in new work that has broad benefits in the outreach and engagement of topical aims and the objectives of charities. Smokescreen presentMengelein rep with All Changea new play created in support of the work of St Wiflrid’s Hospice and are also producing the award winning PTSD piece Shell Shock(supporting multiple military and mental health charities) with Army@TheFringe at EdFringe 18.
- For more: W: smokescreenprods.com W: assemblyfestival.com Tw: @SmokeScreenProd FB: @SmokescreenEB
For media information contact Matthew Shelley at [email protected] Assembly Press office 0131 6233050 or [email protected]