Wiesenthal is the true story of eponymous Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter, Simon
Wiesenthal. It makes its London Premiere at King’s Head on 3 September 2024.
You describe Simon Wiesenthal as intelligent, funny, flawed and noble and a universal hero.
What were the main challenges in depicting such a man on stage?
The challenge in doing Wiesenthal has been making Simon a real human being. He's famous, a
hero to many, but he was also a son, a husband, a father, a great-grandfather, and the play
reveals him in all those roles. His work was most of the time boring, tiring, frustrating, and
thankless, and we show that as well. But he was also a very funny guy…
Is there humour in the play?
Yes, there is a good deal of humour in the play. Simon was a raconteur, a teller of stories (not
all of them strictly true); the show begins with one of his favourite jokes: "I have been called
the Jewish James Bond...." but even when he is not telling jokes, Simon tells much of his story
with self-deprecating humour: "the important work in this life is done at messy desks." (Mark,
the director, thinks I never make the desk messy enough).
What makes Wiesenthal a ‘universal hero’?
For Simon the Holocaust was "not only a Jewish tragedy, but a human tragedy" For him a crime
of universal proportions demanded universal responses. For example, he spoke out for justice
for the Romani and Sinti and other non-Jewish victims of the Nazi horror. "We must speak of all
genocide to prevent all genocide." And for him, the goal was clear: "it was justice, not
vengeance that I wanted."
Why did you decide to bring this play to London at this time?
After wonderful success at the Fringe in 2023 (23 sold-out performances and rave reviews), we
were anxious to present the show in a larger venue, to a larger audience, and the chance to do
the show in London is just too amazing. It's going to be a real challenge, and we can't wait.
What has been the most fulfilling/exciting thing about bringing the production to London?
Mark (Liebert, director) and I have been working on this show since before the pandemic, and
we are delighted to discover that it never gets old or boring; that we are always able to find
new insights into this fascinating character. Along the way, I play Simon's mother, his wife, and
his daughter, plus almost a dozen other people, including assorted Nazis, and that is so much
fun for an actor. Tom Dugan's play is a rich, constantly challenging work of the playwright's art
and we feel privileged to be doing it.
How do you feel about the timing of the run given current world events?
Mark (Liebert, director) and Nancy (Gibbs, producer) and I believe that the show has a
contemporary relevance, which makes it all the more important that we do it before larger
audiences in larger venues. Simon (Wiesenthal) makes it explicit: "If we do not honestly try to
understand how it happened then, it will happen now."
Two post show Q&A’s with the performer and director will take place after performances as follow –
8 September matinee: hosted by Dr James Bulgin Head of Public History at the Imperial War Museum
9 September evening performance: hosted by Terri Paddock, writer and arts journalist.
Both events are free to ticket holders for the relevant performances.
Book tickets here: https://kingsheadtheatre.com/whats-on/wiesenthal