An award winning actress has joined the cast list of the Queen’s Theatre’s production of a moving historical play.
Suzan Sylvester has been cast as Faith’s mother, Evelyn in Diane Samuels’ Kindertransport, produced by Queen’s Theatre, and Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg in association with Selladoor Productions.
Suzan is best known for appearing in the BBC TV drama Cherished, crime thriller Murder on the Home Front, and other TV credits include Eastenders, Kingdom and London’s Burning.
She has previously performed as Faith in the premiere production of Kindertransport in 1993 at the Cockpit Theatre and has an Olivier Award for her performance of Catherine in A View From The Bridge at the Aldwych Theatre, directed by Alan Ayckbourn.
The award winning actress will be joined by Hannah Bristow as Faith, Leila Schaus as Eva, Catherine Janke as Helga, Jenny Lee as Lil and Matthew Brown as the Ratcatcher.
Artistic director at the Queen’s Theatre, Douglas Rintoul said: “We’re very proud to bring this deeply touching play to new audiences in the UK and abroad on its 25th anniversary and on the 80th anniversary of the Kindertransport.
“The project brings together a regional UK theatre, a leading continental European theatre and a commercial touring company in a unique collaboration for a very timely production.”
The production marks 80 years since the Kindertransport, which saw thousands of Jewish children ferried from Austria and Germany to safety in the UK.
It is also 25 years since acclaimed playwright Diane Samuels wrote the extraordinary and haunting play.
Kindertransport tells the story of how nine-year-old Eva, a German Jewish girl, is sent to start a new life in Britain before the outbreak of World War Two on the Kindertransport.
She arrives at Liverpool Street Station, tagged like a piece of luggage and is handed over to strangers.
Over forty years later in Manchester, Eva has changed her name to Evelyn, and is forced to confront the truth when her daughter, Faith discovers old letters in the attic.
Kindertransport opens at Queen’s theatre on Saturday, March 10 at 8pm and continues showing until March 24.
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