“If we do not try to understand how it happened then, it will happen now”.
An urgent warning, delivered by Christopher C. Gibbs at the beginning of this remarkable one-man show, immediately establishes Wiesenthal’s profound sense of purpose: insisting on the necessity of discussing genocide. It is therefore not just a deeply moving and thought-provoking piece of theatre, but an essential reminder of our responsibility to resist complacency in the face of atrocities that continue to occur around the world.
Simon Wiesenthal was an Austrian Holocaust survivor who dedicated the rest of his life to bringing Nazi war criminals to justice. Wiesenthal’s story is told from his office at the Vienna Jewish Documentation Centre, with the realistic set design creating a sense of authenticity. The emotional weight of his testimony is balanced by moments of comic relief, and Tom Bugan’s exceptional writing allows for an accessible exploration of the Holocaust without diminishing its gravity.
Gibbs is faultless as Wiesenthal, portraying him with sensitivity and poignancy. From his impressive physicality to his engaging facial expressions, Gibbs’ performance is nothing short of a triumph. He remains un-mic’d throughout the play, and his occasionally soft delivery made me worry that I might miss important lines. However, this vocal restraint ultimately contributes to an atmosphere of intimacy, which, along with Gibbs’ direct interactions with the audience, makes us feel as though we really are sitting in Wiesenthal’s office.
The assertion that “it does not take a criminal mind to commit mass murder, simply blind obedience to authority” confronts us with the uncomfortable reality that throughout history, genocide has been committed by ‘ordinary’ people who follow orders.
This play is therefore fundamentally concerned with memory, and our responsibility to keep it alive. As I listened to the testimony of Simon Wiesenthal, a man I had previously never heard of, I became acutely aware of the power of theatre as an act of resistance. It can and must be used to preserve stories that might otherwise remain unknown.
Wiesenthal is an extraordinarily powerful piece which I believe we all have a duty to see. It is beautifully written and performed, and the content is crucially relevant and impactful.
Wiesenthal is running until 30 August at Gilded Balloon Teviot. Buy tickets here.
Photo by Rod Penn, provided as press material.
