The Covenant
Once Covid-19 has passed and it is safe for all to come together and enjoy the wonders of theatre, we hope to produce, Alice Abracen’s play, The Covenant, winner of the Canadian Jewish Play Competition in 2018.
Inspired by a true story, The Covenant is set in June, 1944 at Theresienstadt. Red Cross dignitaries are invited to marvel at this lively town which appears to be a haven for Jewish people in the heart of Czechoslovakia. Little do they know that this paradise is a ghetto and concentration camp, elaborately staged in order to conceal Nazi crimes against humanity. Forced to participate in the terrible charade, the ambitious politician, Peter and the dedicated doctor Hilde find their idealism, their faith, and their love put to a terrible test
As we are currently witnessing the rise of anti-semitism, right-wing populist movements, the rise of demagogues as well as the divisiveness of political rhetoric and the growing atomization of our culture and the loss of our feelings of efficacy —-we need to bear witness. This is why The Covenant is so important and timely: it reminds us that the manipulation of language and media by despots has happened before—and it is happening again. We need to find ways to keep vigilant—and to keep our hearts open. The Covenant does just this.
After he attended the staged reading at the Segal Centre in 2018, Martin Duckworth, a celebrated Canadian cinematographer and film maker wrote:
Inspired by a true story, The Covenant is set in June, 1944 at Theresienstadt. Red Cross dignitaries are invited to marvel at this lively town which appears to be a haven for Jewish people in the heart of Czechoslovakia. Little do they know that this paradise is a ghetto and concentration camp, elaborately staged in order to conceal Nazi crimes against humanity. Forced to participate in the terrible charade, the ambitious politician, Peter and the dedicated doctor Hilde find their idealism, their faith, and their love put to a terrible test
As we are currently witnessing the rise of anti-semitism, right-wing populist movements, the rise of demagogues as well as the divisiveness of political rhetoric and the growing atomization of our culture and the loss of our feelings of efficacy —-we need to bear witness. This is why The Covenant is so important and timely: it reminds us that the manipulation of language and media by despots has happened before—and it is happening again. We need to find ways to keep vigilant—and to keep our hearts open. The Covenant does just this.
After he attended the staged reading at the Segal Centre in 2018, Martin Duckworth, a celebrated Canadian cinematographer and film maker wrote:
“Your play struck me with the force of a Tolstoy novel, combining as it did a polished historical scholarship, a sophisticated awareness of the tension between politics and morality, a great sensitivity to the contradictions of human emotions, an extraordinary skill at dramatic structure, plus something that Tolstoy lacked, a sense of humour which helped immensely in grounding the story. I would feel very privileged if I could have the pleasure of re-reading your script. As of now, it feels like one of those special works of art that has the quality of having leapt to life inevitably, the role of the artist being simply to reveal it to the world as received. Works that have an endless life. Please make sure it gets seen by people of all religious and political leanings.” -Martin Duckworth
Show Dates
Next Spring 2022 (Precise show dates to be determined)
Box Office
Coming Soon!