THE COMPANY

The SHOCK TACTICS production of GHETTO assembles a cast of unprecedented size, many of whom are newcomers to the stage.

MICHAEL PEGLER (17) as Kittel, the cultured but sadistic and unpredictable S.S. Officer who permits the Lithuanian Jews to resurrect their theatre company, allowing it to flourish briefly before the entire ghetto is liquidated. Michael played Vasques in 'Tis Pity She's A Whore and is a veteran of several previous productions, including Doctor Faustus, Antigone, and Hiawatha.

ANNA LUSSER (18) plays Hayyah, the singer who fronts most of the play's big numbers. This role was taken by Maria Friedman in the Royal National Theatre's 1989 production. In 'Tis Pity she played Philotis, and many previous shows include Asleep Under The Earth, Our Town, Once A Catholic, Wizard of Oz, Teechers, A Midsummer Night's Dream.

ELLIOT TAYLOR (17) as Srulik the ventriloquist. The story of GHETTO is principally told through his eyes; it is he who is instructed to set up the new theatre, and becomes its artistic director. Elliot played the fool Bergetto in 'Tis Pity She's A Whore.

JUSTIN AUDIBERT (16) plays the tailor and entrepreneur Weiskopf who sets up a workshop in the ghetto and makes a fortune - until his luck runs out. This obsessive and emotional character makes a strong contrast to the stalwart Poggio from 'Tis Pity.

PAUL SEWELL (16) takes on Herman Kruk, on whose diaries the play GHETTO is based. He is the ghetto librarian, a Zionist from Warsaw, and repeatedly finds himself in conflict with Gens, who runs the ghetto. Paul played the Priest in the Sutton version of 'Tis Pity She's A Whore, and has also been seen in Our Town and Doctor Faustus.

TOM CASEY (17) was a Hired Man in 'Tis Pity, and plays Dessler, the brutal Deputy Head of the Jewish Police.

The many new members of SHOCK TACTICS include:

ANDREW SPELLER (16) as Jacob Gens, head of the Jewish Police, who runs the Vilna ghetto. Gens is responsible to the Germans for drawing up lists of Jews for extermination, but uses his position to minimise the damage wherever possible. But in saving Jewish lives he is directly involved in the holocaust himself.

MATTHEW LAMBLE (13) plays the ventriloquist's dummy, Djigan.

DREE BABB (16) is Judith, an acclaimed actress who is one of the stars of the Vilna Ghetto Theatre.

Other actors include TOM MULCAHY, GARETH EVANS, JONATHAN ROWNEY, MARTIN HOLMES, DANIELLE BELMONT, LOUISE GOODRIDGE. The Ghetto Theatre Company also includes the singers CHRISTIAN PALMER, MICHAEL ENGLARD, JAMIE FLOWER and the musicians DEREK WILSON, DARREN WILKINS, MARK JOHNS, KEVIN SOGELER, IAN FIELDER, ANDREW GRAY, JAMES BRAGANZA, STEPHEN COWLIN.

The black marketeers are ANDREW HALL, ADAM DAVIES, TIM ATKINS, NICOLA FOX.

Gestapo officers and Jewish Police: ADAM DEADMAN, MARK RIVERS, CHRIS WOOD, DEAN STOCKLEY, SEAN MERRICK, GAVIN JEFFERIES, PAUL CRUTTENDEN, BEN PINKERTON.

Other parts played by BECKY HERBERT, SAM TOBIN, BECKY HARRIS, KATIE BRISTOWE, LINDSEY MCGILL, BEVERLEY EDMONDSON, GABRIELLA ROWSON, STEPHANIE GIBSON, LEAH EVANS.

THE VILNA GHETTO
THE CHARACTERS
THE SONGS
THE AUTHOR'S NOTES
THE STORY AND PRODUCTION PHOTOS