Harold's War

Harold's War The remarkable true story of an East Yorkshire boy, his brothers and friends, in the battle for Britain during World War 2 - Produced by Jonathan Levy.

Follow the development of this new theatrical presentation, podcast and companion media.

Episode 2 / ACT II of the Harold's War podcast has just dropped on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and you Tube podcasts. Plus s...
01/10/2024

Episode 2 / ACT II of the Harold's War podcast has just dropped on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and you Tube podcasts. Plus see the link on our profile. This groundbreaking production was recorded live at the world premiere with a theatre audience

EPISODE 1 / ACT I of the podcast recorded at the world premiere of Harold's War is now online for you to hear. ACT II dr...
27/09/2024

EPISODE 1 / ACT I of the podcast recorded at the world premiere of Harold's War is now online for you to hear. ACT II drops next week. If you were there, at East Riding Theatre relive the live experience. For everyone else now is your chance to hear this remarkable true story - a timely tale of triumph over tyranny in World War 2 through the experiences of a young boy and his brothers, plus family and friends. 4.5 stars rave reviews. Please listen, share and send us your reaction/reviews in comments or DM - see link in our profile (scroll down for podcasts) or find "Harold's War" on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and You Tube Podcasts

10/09/2024

Just a few days after the World Premiere of Harold's War I attended a talk (hosted by Osprey for Osteoporosis) by holocaust survivor Malka Levine, born in 1939, the year World War 2 was declared, 85 years ago. She was just two years old when the N**i invaders forced her family into the Jewish ghetto in Volodymyr-Volynskyi, a small city in present-day Ukraine. It was the first step in a campaign of mass murder. Of the 25,000 Jews in the city in 1939, only thirty would survive eighteen terrifying months as the N**is systematically killed the inhabitants of the ghetto. Malka gave us permission to record her story for the educational resources we are developing as the next stage of the Harold's War project. You can read the full story in her book: A Mother's Courage published by Pan Macmillan
This post includes a short clip from her 50 minute talk.
ADVISORY - WARNING the descriptions used by Malka include graphic descriptions of persecution and mass murder.

An incredible reaction to last week's world premiere performance of Harold's War at East Riding Theatre. The podcast rec...
10/09/2024

An incredible reaction to last week's world premiere performance of Harold's War at East Riding Theatre. The podcast recorded on the evening is to be released later this month. Just the first stage of our comprehensive educational initiative. Discover more via the link in our profile.

Ron Simpson at The Reviews Hub gave it 4 ½ stars! He described it as a ‘Remarkable evening, moving and smartly coordinated’ with ‘potent memories.’

Audience feedback was equally positive:

“A very powerful and emotional evening”

“Thought provoking, sad, moments of joy all blended seamlessly”

“Absolutely stunning”

“An amazing story, beautifully told”

“A superb evening”

“Amazing! Well done to all”

Pictures Scott Heavey

85 years ago on 1st September 1939, Germany invaded Poland after days of rising tension. Hi**er issued the order in Dire...
31/08/2024

85 years ago on 1st September 1939, Germany invaded Poland after days of rising tension. Hi**er issued the order in Directive Number 1 the previous afternoon. In Britain on 31 August 1939 the Royal Navy was mobilized and Army and Royal Air Force reserves were called up. An official order was given in Britain to evacuate civilians from cities and towns that were likely targets for enemy bombing. Most of the evacuees were schoolchildren. Over the next few days nearly 3 million people would be relocated. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain addressed Parliament and concluded the country would enter the inevitable war “with a clear conscience.” Hull braced itself for the imminent conflict as thousands of families prepared to evacuate their children from the city. East Riding Theatre on 5 September at 7.30pm SOLD OUT

24/08/2024

The world premiere performance may be full but the podcast we'll record with a theatre audience on 5 September will be made available to a global audience and be the centre piece of educational resources exploring the themes spotlighted in this groundbreaking production

21/08/2024

Harold Bermitz was interviewed by his grandson, Daniel Levy, almost 30 years ago. In this short trailer Daniel recalls his original project, what it means to him today and the fact clips are incorporated into the new theatre presentation Harold's War - with its world premiere at East Riding Theatre on 5 September at 7.30pm ( last few tickets available now ) has sent his best wishes and admiration for the production.

Countdown to war!   85 years ago Britain braced for conflict with Germany. The Hull Daily Mail headline declared: “World...
10/08/2024

Countdown to war! 85 years ago Britain braced for conflict with Germany. The Hull Daily Mail headline declared: “World awaits declaration tonight of Hi**er’s policy on Danzig” – anticipating a surprise announcement on a demand that the city rejoin Germany. It was all a pretext to going to war against Poland by the end of the month.
Meanwhile at midnight on 11 August half of England went dark for four hours in a test to determine how effectively the country could shroud itself from enemy planes.
Daily Herald journalist Mea Allan said of the blackout: “It was a fearful portent of what war was to be. We had not thought that we would have to fight in darkness, or that light would be our enemy.”
See link in profile for tickets from East Riding Theatre for premiere on 5 September 2024 at 7.30pm

Pictured - Oswald Mosley - leader of the British Union of Fascists with national and local Black Shirts leaders and supp...
05/08/2024

Pictured - Oswald Mosley - leader of the British Union of Fascists with national and local Black Shirts leaders and supporters at a dinner in the Metropole in Hull in December 1936. Five months earlier he and his mob were driven out of the city by 10,000 dock and railway workers together with other anti-fascists in the 'Battle of Corporation Field' - one of the many stories featured in Harold's War to be performed East Riding Theatre in a month's time on 5th September 2024 at 7.30 pm. See link in profile for tickets.

07/07/2024

Trailer 240707: A new selection of clips from the original interviews conducted by 11 year old Daniel (Harold's grandson) almost 30 years ago, for a school project, that will be featured in Harold's War together with live narration and readings of letters exchanged and conversations recalled. Premiere on 5 September 2024 at 7.30pm at East Riding Theatre - tickets available from the box office: https://www.eastridingtheatre.co.uk/harolds-war

30/06/2024

It feels appropriate on Armed Forces Day weekend to share this latest trailer for which will premiere at East Riding Theatre on 5 September 2024 at 7.30pm - this reel uses a clip from an interview with Harold nearly 30 years ago conducted as a school project by his grandson. Now these clips will be combined with live narration and readings of letters exchanged and conversations recalled. A rollercoaster of emotion from war time humour to grief and fear. Tickets available now: https://eastridingtheatre.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173656359

Our cast of characters from the past is growing as our research of photos and letters from   continues, plus we caught u...
16/06/2024

Our cast of characters from the past is growing as our research of photos and letters from continues, plus we caught up with Harold's grandson Daniel to reflect on the video interviews he conducted nearly 30 years ago. Tickets now on sale for 5 September premiere - see link in profile.

05/06/2024

It's the 80th anniversary of - a significant commemoration of bravery, sacrifice and determination. Surviving veterans often say they did this to save future generations from a similar fate. But while encouraged us to cherish peace it also demonstrated the need to confront 'tyranny'. This September we will be telling the remarkable true story of an East Yorkshire boy who ended up joining his brothers, extended family and friends in the battle for Britain. Harold's Story will feature clips from unique video interviews conducted nearly 30 years ago with live narration and readings from letters exchanged and conversations recalled. D-day is an important turning point in the story and just one of many landmark moments experienced by Harold. The premiere performance takes place at on 5th September 2024 at 7.30pm and will be captured as a radio recording with a live audience.

Welcome to Harold's War. This page follows the creation of a new theatrical production based on a school project underta...
04/06/2024

Welcome to Harold's War. This page follows the creation of a new theatrical production based on a school project undertaken nearly 30 year's ago by Harold's grandson, Daniel. His video film 'My Family at War' captured interviews with Harold, relations and friends who had been involved at every stage of World War 2. Harold was just 14 when war was declared. His parents never thought he would join his older brothers on the front line but he did. Clips from these interviews will be presented with live narration and readings to tell this remarkable story. It will premiere on 5th September 2024 at 7.30pm at East Riding Theatre (ERT). Daniel's original project was sent to Steven Spielberg to be passed on to the Shoah Foundation archive. His response to the project film and interviews was: 'Astounding. An impressive work...that brings to life all those in your family who were part of the war." You can follow the development of this new production on this page over the coming weeks with exclusive insights and archive. We would also value your feedback and hear any family stories you would like to share. I am Jonathan Levy - Daniel's father and Harold's son-in-law. I'll be writing and narrating this production under the expert guidance of director Richard Avery, currently ERT's Artistic Director.

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