Circus Jews under National Socialism

Tracing their legacies back to the golden age of circus, this talk charts the successes of the Jewish circus families, their tours and their specialty acts, painting a vivid picture of their legacies. Together we will discover their fates, as people and as businesses, throughout the years of the Nazi regime. Telling these stories with sensitivity and humour, the talk includes photos from personal albums, recorded testimonies, and personal stories. This historic talk is woven with excerpts from Stav’s show “The Escape Act: A Holocaust Memoir”, based on one of these stories — that of Irene Danner-Storm, a Jewish acrobat whose family survived WWII hiding in a German circus.

 Stav Meishar (she/they) is an award-winning performance maker, interdisciplinary stage artist, researcher and educator. Their work seeks to intersect history and current affairs by mixing together tools from the worlds of theatre, circus, and contemporary performance, exploring the power of art as an investigative tool for inciting change. As a dedicated historic researcher, writer and lecturer, Stav’s research spans their many interests, intersecting Jewish culture, circus history and/or queer history. Their research has been presented in academic conferences, festivals and public events around the world.

Members              – Free

Friends & Guests – £8.00 at the door