Wolf’s Lair: Life As Hitler’s Secretary

Media Release: 28th July 2009
For Immediate Release

LIFE AS HITLER’S SECRETARY

Almost A Bird Theatre Collective presents
WOLF’S LAIR
Devised & created by Sophie Roberts and Willem Wassenaar.

A fractured portrait of the woman who served one of history’s most evil leaders, the acclaimed Almost A Bird Theatre Collective performs the return season of their celebrated work Wolf’s Lair at The Basement from August 25th.

“Beautifully performed ... A fascinating glimpse into an ordinary woman trapped in the very centre of the maelstrom of evil that was Nazi Germany.” - Laurie Atkinson, Dominion Post

Germany, 1942. Traudl Junge was a young woman with dreams of becoming a ballerina. Instead, at 22 years old she became Adolf Hitler's personal secretary. She served him for two and a half years, until the final days of World War II when Nazi Germany fell. Traudl Junge was one of the few survivors to emerge from the Berlin Bunker where Hitler and many members of his inner circle ended their own lives. For years Junge claimed she was blind to the genocidal activities carried out around her; but in the late 60’s, Junge decided to confront her past.

Wolf’s Lair is a 45 minute performance examining the “unspectacular life” of a very ordinary woman who found herself working in Wolfsschanze (Wolf’s Lair). The story follows the 35 years of confrontation she faced dealing with her past – the exhausting attempt to understand herself and her motivations as a young woman throughout an increasingly painful process. Perhaps eerily, she died shortly after the publication of her memoirs in February 2002 – putting everything to rest.

Performed by Chapman Tripp award winner Sophie Roberts, she also devised and created the play with director Willem Wassenaar – co-founder of Almost A Bird Theatre Collective, whose past work includes an acclaimed version of “A Streetcar Named Desire”, “Angels in America” and “Antigone”. Wolf’s Lair premiered during the 2009 Fringe in Wellington to garnering widespread accolades from media and audiences alike.

Roberts’almost symbiotic work with Wassenaar and Almost A Bird Theatre has seen her perform in the majority of their works, resulting multiple awards for the company including Chapman Tripp and Fringe Festival accolades.

Wolf’s Lair, rather than re-enacting her autobiography, shines a light on the pain and confusion she suffered - not at the time of the Nazi genocide, but when as an adult she finally started questioning and accepting her role in the events that scarred history.

“Dynamic .. compelling. A consummate performance” - John Smythe, Theatreview

Wolf’s Lair plays
August 25th – September 5th, 8pm (no Sunday or Monday shows)
The Basement, Lower Greys Avenue, Auckland
Tickets: Adults $20, Concessions and Groups of 5+ $15 (service fees may apply)
Bookings through iTicket – www.iticket.co.nz or (09) 361 1000

ENDS

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