‘Hold on to your music, it will be your best friend in life…’
In early 1938, Lisa Jura, a young Jewish girl in Vienna, dreamed that one day she would become a concert pianist. In March, her dreams were shattered.
German troops took over Austria, her homeland. Lisa Jura became a refugee, one of about 10,000 children brought to England before World War II as part of the Kindertransport—a mission to rescue children threatened by the Nazis.
Lisa’s daughter Mona Golabek and writer Lee Cohen first told her story in the book The Children of Willesden Lane. The book was then turned into the stage show, The Pianist of Willesden Lane. This September, the smash hit production returns to the St. James Theatre following a sold out run in early 2016, becoming the only production in the theatre’s four year history to play for a second time.
The story opens soon after the Nazis turned Austria into a place where Jews were regarded as outcasts. Then it moves to England where Lisa Jura lived in a home for young refugees at 243 Willesden Lane. The story follows Lisa’s coming of age during WWII and her courageous journey to fulfil her dream of music during one of the darkest periods in history.
The Pianist of Willesden Lane features the music of Grieg, Beethoven, Debussy, Bach, Chopin and more, performed live, by Mona Golabek, on a Steinway concert piano.
The Pianist of Willesden Lane
Wednesday 7 September – Sunday 16 October 2016
A gala night, in aid of World Jewish Relief, will take place on Tuesday 13 September at 7pm.
Tuesday – Saturday evenings at 7.30pm
Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2.30pm
No performances on Tuesday 11 October at 7.30pm or Wednesday 12 October at 2.30pm in observance of Yom Kippur
Extra performance on Thursday 13 October at 2.30pm
Bookings: https://www.stjamestheatre.co.uk/book-tickets/?event=30916
Box office: 0844 264 2140
Ticket prices: £15 / £35 / £40 / £45
★★★★★ ‘Effortlessly moving. Joyful, sobering and spellbinding.’ Londonist
★★★★ ‘Immensely moving’ Financial Times
★★★★ ‘Soft, simple and effective.’ Evening Standard
★★★★ ‘An Intensely personal one-woman show. Evocative, heartfelt portrayal.’ The Stage
★★★★ ‘An extraordinary story on every level. A tour de force.’ WhatsOnStage
