Celebrating the true story of young people with the courage to stand up to a notoriously cruel regime, whatever the cost
Upon entering Marylebone Theatre’s welcoming, intimate auditorium, I was struck by the youthfulness of the audience and atmosphere of excited anticipation. I even asked some of them if they were a drama school group, but they assured me they were not. It seems that what had attracted a fair few them to White Rose: The Musical was the true story of people their age prepared to risk arrest and punishment for their ideals; for trying to persuade fellow German citizens to join them in denouncing Adolf Hitler by showering wartime Munich with leaflets. Indeed, every programme included messages from these leaflets for which the Nazi regime was bound to punish the young writers: "Hitler is leading the German people into an abyss. Hitler cannot win the war, only prolong it. Support the resistance. Distribute these leaflets!"
It is 1943 and the instigators of the White Rose movement, a real-life resistance group started by students at the University of Munich, are non-Jewish siblings Sophie and Hans Scholl (played by Collette Guitart and Tobias Turley). Their fight may be foolhardy, but there can be no question of their passion and bravery. The pair are appalled by reports from the Warsaw Ghetto of children being ripped from their mothers’ arms and the plight of Europe’s Jews, so they set about their protest to speak truth to power.
The Scholls and other White Rose members are dressed in shades of brown and khaki (costumes Jean Grey) that ape the greys and muted tones of designer Justin Williams’ set. I would have imagined Sophie at least in colours as vivid as her personality, but the only bright colour evident is the red of the swastikas worn by the Nazis. Their armbands stand out to chilling effect, dominating the stage from a platform behind and above the action. Beneath that is the printing press on which the Scholls produce their leaflets. The obvious danger the siblings are facing is horrifying (in reality the pair were cruelly executed by guillotine) and their final embrace as they face their fate together is extraordinarily moving.
I originally saw the play on which this musical is based in 2022 at the Brundibár Arts Festival in Newcastle, which was both memorable and rousing. Why then did this production not have quite the same effect? Will Nunziata’s direction alongside the music and book (composer Natalie Brice, book and lyrics Brian Belding) didn't ignite excitement, despite strong support from the rest of the cast of 11, playing fellow White Rose members, a college professor, Nazis and Gestapo. Plus, the sound seemed muffled and hard to hear on the night, though that may have been sorted by now.
Regardless, the show concluded to applause and even a few standing ovations. The company has at least found an audience to inspire to stand up for their ideals.
By Judi Herman
Photos by Marc Brenner
White Rose: The Musical runs until Sunday 13 April. Times vary. £27.25-£82.25. Marylebone Theatre, NW1 6XT. marylebonetheatre.com