On Thursday 28 September, the Solihull School community was privileged to welcome Susan Pollack OBE to the Senior School Warwick Road campus for the groundbreaking verbatim performance of Kindness: A Legacy of the Holocaust.
The memorable play, which took place in the school’s Bushell Hall auditorium, was commissioned by Voices of the Holocaust and has been seen by over 20,000 students and members of the public since its premiere in 2022. Susan Pollack OBE is a Hungarian Holocaust survivor who, at the age of 13, was sent to Aushwitz and later to Bergen-Belsen. The school also had the honour of welcoming fellow Auschwitz survivor, Mindu Hornick MBE; Kindertransportee Lia Lesser, as well as civic, religious and charity leaders from across the Midlands, and further afield.
Mr Penney, Head of the Prep School who organised the evening, said: “At 93 years old, Susan continues to be a beacon of inspiration for so many people far and wide. Despite losing 50 members of her family in the Holocaust, and her own near-death experiences, Susan continues to share how she is disarmed by acts of everyday kindness. Her heartfelt encouragement to be upstanders in the face of all forms of discrimination and prejudice, and to always be kind will live long in the memory of all present.”
Cate Hollis, Artistic Director of Voices of the Holocaust, said: "Voices of the Holocaust, as a charity, is dedicated to telling the stories of survivors like our dear friend Susan Pollack OBE. It is profoundly important that her story, that of her family and the other 6 million Jewish people murdered in the Holocaust continue to be told. The impact that Kindness is having across education establishments in the UK is incredible and we are honoured to do this work through the power of theatre."
Mr Penney added: “We are proud of our excellent and established reputation for hosting and championing awareness events, that encourage our audiences to reject all forms or prejudice and discrimination. It is only by knowing the stories of those who have suffered and lost so much, that we can truly understand the role we can play in trying to prevent it from happening again.”