Our Class

Our Class follows the lives of 10 school children—Catholic and Jewish—growing up in a small town in Poland. Beginning in 1925, the children are full of friendship and hope for the future. But when World War II breaks out, Soviets, then Nazis, invade the town and everything changes. Anti-Semitism creates a divide and leads to persecution and violence, culminating in a mass murder where the Jewish inhabitants are burned in a barn or murdered in the town square. The play questions how ordinary people, once friends, could commit such horrific acts.
Format: Drama
Cast Size:7M/3F
Running Time: 3 hours
Character breakdown:

Wladek
Zocha
Rachelka, later Marianna
Menachem
Jakub Katz
Zygmunt
Dora
Rysiek
Abram
Heniek

Notes:

Polish language version Nasza klasa is published by Slowo/Obraz Terytoria, 2012.
In 2013, the play was given a joint production in Hebrew by the Cameri and Habima Theatres of Israel in Tel Aviv.

Snapshot

Original or Prominent Production:
16 September 2009, Cottesloe National Theatre, U.K.
Original Source Material: Based on true events that occurred in Jedwabne, Poland.
Nationality of Author: Polish
Original Language: Polish, titled Nasza klasa; English language version by Ryan Craig.
Publisher:

Oberon Books: Oberon Modern Plays

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