Is a theater play of the Wannsee Conference "too strong" for middle schoolers?

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

This is a project I am personally invested in, having co-authored the script and having a small role in it.

For those that don't know, the Wannsee Conference was a meeting of senior government officials of Nazi Germany to decide how to solve the "Jewish Question".

I co-authored the script and initially played the role of Adolf Eichmann, before we found someone more suitable and I took the role of Kritzinger - a Nazi official opposed to the genocide because he thought it would justify the world's loathing of Nazi Germany.

The play is scheduled for the evening of the 24th January 2024, and it has a lenght of 90 minutes, much like the real conference. It tries to be as faithful as the historical meeting - I'll have to wear a Nazi uniform too - and it's primarily aimed to three schools we have contacted about the project.

Reception for now has been mostly positive, although some people expressed concern about the topic being too grim for such a young audience, while a woman in particular criticized the fact that half of the cast wears Nazi uniforms and said to remove the offending symbols at least.

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A touch I really like is that after the play, during the curtain call, each actor will step up and explain tell the audience the fate of their character after the war - many of them actually escaped prosecution, kept working in West Germany and died of old age.

My character, dr. Kritzinger, tried to give his resignation, got denied, and got arrested by the Gestapo in 1944. He died in poverty shortly after the war.

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I return to this question almost a year later because thanks to this project, we actually won a State accolade, just got the news now.

We performed the play in four schools/theaters and people are asking if we'll do it next year.

[OddBeMe]

Seems a bit too much…tho I have no kids and forgot what age middle school is.

I think more Holocaust related teaching needs to be sussed out. Our current “American GIs liberated everyone and we all partied” missies the entire point.

I just read that waiting until rescue is too late when it comes to genocide. That there are key flags and obstacles we can put in place to stop it head on. Lessons like that need teaching.

But wanssee is dramatically blasé about the deaths of 11 million people. That has current connections to how we’re allowing gazan children to die.

[AviatorTom]

Keep things authentic... do not remove the swastikas.

It's not too much for middle-schoolers but...

It's important that the play be explained to the kids before they see it. Their teachers should explain the history, put the play in context. Then, after the play, their teachers should have an open discussion with student participation in a Q&A, followed by the students writing a shirt essay/critique of the play.

You should personally offer to help the teachers in this.

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

Of course, teachers will prep the audience beforehand.
Also, the cast will explain some things - like the Nuremberg laws - during the play.

[OlderAndWiser]

Do not remove ther swastikas from the uniforms. History should never be sanitized for those who are overly sensitive.

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

That's what I think - I also think it's right that it should make people uncomfortable, given the topic at hand.

We usually don't get in costume for the rehearsals, but once my mother came along and it was the day we were doing the rehearsal with the costumes on - she said she felt quite uneasy and couldn't recognize me dressed like that.

[OlderAndWiser]

Your mother's comment was a compliment!

[Jamie05rhs]

I'm not sure why you're involved in this. It's going to ruin your political career. If I were you, I would gracefully exit ASAP. The optics are terrible.

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

I understand your concerns, but the reception has been mostly positive and we already got public funding - as for my political career, I could win an accolade for arts and that's what I'm aiming for - actually 90% we already won it, since I've got a guy in the committee.

[Jamie05rhs]

Oh, okay.

[Staximus]

Yeah that's not something kids that age can really comprehend

[Staximus]

Suitable for college kids, maybe high school

[NathanDavis]

did the reception was mostly positive... in the positive way? or the negative way?

[AngryCarl]

Middle school? You mean like juniors? I don't think they'd get it.

[slatyb]

No, it's not.

[slatyb]

Hmmm... I'm thinking it may be a bit much for middle school. Completely appropriate for high school.