"Over the course of making the show I feel like I’ve got to know him"
Theatremaker Miriam Sherwood tells Judi Herman the extraordinary story of her late grandfather, Jan ‘Laco’ Kalina – Slovakian Jewish satirist, joke collector, cabaret creator and radio performer – who survived the Nazis only to be imprisoned by the Communists. He died eight years before her birth, yet thanks to the treasure trove of writings he left behind, he is her collaborator on the show Rendezvous in Bratislava that she dubs "a grandad cabaret". Sherwood talks too about the highly original performance style and musical numbers created with and by her contemporary collaborators: jazz flautist, singer and composer Maria Rehakova, and composer/performers Thom Andrewes and Will Gardner. Listeners also get to hear an extract from the show, the satirical number ‘Socialism with a Human Face’, with words in both English and Slovak that they teach the audience.
Rendezvous in Bratislava tours the UK until Sunday 17 May; visiting Oxford (7 Feb), Berkshire (11 Mar), Greater Manchester (14 Mar), London (23-24 Apr) and Yorkshire (17 May). See JR listings for further details or visit rendezvousinbratislava.wordpress.com
Read our review of Rendezvous in Bratislava on the JR blog.