They were 13 and 14-year-old boys imprisoned in the Terezin (Theresienstadt) Ghetto and only a handful would survive the Holocaust.
But these teenagers fought back with everything they had: determination, ethics, and moral courage. Every Friday night, they would take turns reading from their own secret magazine, Vedem (Czech for In The Lead) which was filled with poetry, essays, and humor.
Petr Ginz (1928-1944) was Vedem’s driving force and in this documentary, you’ll hear six actors tell the story of Vedem, and how Petr and his friends have left us with a legacy of life.
Episode 1
Episode 2
Vedem cast
Chava Pressburger
Chava (Eva) Ginz Pressburger, sister of Petr Ginz, emigrated to Israel in the 1950s. She married, raised a family, and became a well-known artist and educator. Chava passed away in 2022, at age 82.
Sara Kestelman
Sara Kestelman, who has appeared in well over a hundred plays, is a veteran of Britain’s National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and has appeared in numerous theatre productions in London’s West End. Sara's film credits include Zardoz, Lisztomania and Lady Jane. On television she has appeared in Anna Karenina, Gentleman Jack and Holby City among others.
Kurt Kotouc
Kurt Kotouc was born in Brno in 1928, survived Terezin and Auschwitz, and remained in Czechoslovakia after the war. He became a graphic artist and book designer and passed away in 2008.
Tomas Kraus
Tomas Kraus, the son of a survivor of Terezin and Auschwitz, narrates Kurt Kotouc’s interview. Tomas trained as an attorney and spent three decades as general secretary of the Federation of Czech Jewish communities. He has also appeared in films such as The Painted Bird.
George (Jiri) Brady
George (Jiri) Brady, was born in Nove Mesto in 1928 and was the only member of his family to survive the Holocaust. George emigrated to Canada, became a successful businessman, raised a family, and devoted his later years to human rights causes and educational projects. He died in 2018.
Steve Furst
George Brady is read by Steve Furst, a well-known television and stage actor with more than 90 roles to his credit, most recently as Fagin in Oliver.
Sidney (Zdenek) Taussig
Sidney (Zdenek) Taussig, was born in Prague in 1928. His family survived in Terezin, then emigrated to the US, where Sidney, married, raised a family and worked in engineering. In his later years Sidney worked closely with school groups in New York and in Florida.
Allan Corduner
Allan Corduner, who reads Sidney Taussig, has appeared in over 150 stage, television, and film productions, including The Woman in Gold and Tár.
Leo Loewy
Leo Loewy was orphaned at a young age in Prague, survived Auschwitz and Buchenwald, and emigrated to the US. He worked in construction, married, and raised a family in New Jersey. He passed away in 2022.
David Horovitch
David Horovitch, another veteran of the Royal Shakespeare Company, reads Leo Loewy for us. David has appeared in over 100 stage, television and radio productions.
Articles and poems by the boys of Vedem, none of whom survived Auschwitz
Aaron Barashi
14-year-old Aaron Barashi has been the voice of Thomas the Tank Engine in Thomas and Friends All Engines Go for Channel 5 and cinema since 2021. Voice credits also include Oliver for Alice Oseman's This Winter for the Heart Stopper series audiobook, as well as countless commercials for radio and television.
Aaron told us that he feels honoured to voice this project for Centropa as his great-grandfather Alfons Blond was the sole survivor of his family in Berlin, losing all brothers, parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in concentration camps during the Holocaust. Aaron feels he is honouring them by being part of this project.
Elior Levi
11-year-old Elior Levi loves computer games, is a multi-trophy-winning Quan Khi Dao student, and has a love for sharks and sea life. He loves to try new things and so is thrilled to voice for this project.
Written and directed by Edward Serotta. The original interviews were conducted for ABC News Nightline in 1997 and by Pavla Neuner, for Centropa, in 2005.
All speaking parts in this podcast were recorded in London and Prague and then produced in Vienna by Moritz Boeswirth. Thanks to Centropa coordinator Tijana Zherajikj and the historical team at the Terezin Memorial.
Music is from Idyl for Strings by Leo Janacek, performed by Massimo Belli & Orchestra da Camera Ferrucio Buskin. Used with permission.
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