Lights Up on the Dark: The Holocaust Onstage21 Loka 2025

S2 E2, Part 2: Shonaleigh Cumbers and "The Fool of the Warsaw Ghetto"

“In the last clearing of the Warsaw Ghetto three children find themselves on a transportation to Auschwitz and encounter the Fool of the Warsaw Ghetto. He offers them a moment of magic in which to escape – if they have the courage to take it…

Not all stories have a happy ending, but they should all begin with outrageous hope.”

In the second part of this special two-part episode, Sam and Alex continue their exploration of a vibrant part of Jewish culture that was nearly lost during the Holocaust: the drut’syla storytelling tradition.

Following on from the first part of the episode with special guest Shonaleigh Cumbers, believed to be the last living drut’syla, the girls listen to the CD recording of The Fool of the Warsaw Ghetto and discuss their reactions - from standout moments and favourite characters to some of the themes.

Be warned - plot spoilers abound, so be prepared to skip parts if you don’t want to know what happens!

Please rate, review, comment, share and subscribe to help us reach more listeners.

Hosts: Samantha Mitschke & Alexandra Gellner

Reason (A Prayer) from The Fool of the Warsaw Ghetto (2006): Shonaleigh Cumbers with Ilana Cravitz, Mike Layward and Jo Veal

Executive Producer: Samantha Mitschke

Producer / Editor: Alexandra Gellner

Music: “Image” by Infraction Music

Contact: https://holocaustonstage.com/contact/

Episode Sources

Shonaleigh Cumbers with Ilana Cravitz, Mike Layward and Jo Veal (2006) The Fool of the Warsaw Ghetto. Audio CD.

For more information about The Fool of the Warsaw Ghetto, and to learn more about Shonaleigh and her tellings, courses and events, please visit https://shonaleigh.uk.

A published collection of some of Shonaleigh’s stories, A Garment for the Moon, is forthcoming from Orkneyology Press.

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