Listening with Survivors: A Playback Theatre Event
Sun, Jun 08
|Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture
Join us for an evening of deep listening and shared reflection as monologues from Holocaust survivors open into a live, interactive performance with Vancouver Playback Theatre.
Time & Location
Jun 08, 2025, 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture, 6184 Ash St, Vancouver, BC V5Z 3G9, Canada
Event Description
Listening with Survivors is a collaborative performance that invites the audience into a shared space of memory, reflection, and connection.
The piece is grounded in REMNANTS, a powerful script by Dr. Hank Greenspan, developed over 40 years of sustained conversations with Holocaust survivors. Each of the seven monologues in Listening with Survivors is drawn from these long-term dialogues, and in this performance, each cast member gives voice to one of them, bringing to life the layered, personal stories that emerged from these deep relationships. Through these stories, cast and audience will reflect on how they resonate today, and on the ways that personal and collective memory remain entangled across generations.
Hosted by Laen Hershler and featuring Vancouver Playback Theatre, it marks the first 'public' presentation of an ongoing performance-based inquiry project. We welcome your presence as listeners, participants, and fellow travelers in this exploration.
Sunday, June 8th, 2025
Doors open at 4:00 PM (Performance starts at 4:30 PM)
Ben Chud Auditorium, Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture
6184 Ash Street, Vancouver
Admission: TBA
Please note: This event includes stories of Holocaust survival and references to traumatic experiences. While we aim to hold these stories with care, the content may be emotionally challenging for some audience members. Support will be available for anyone who may need to step out or debrief.
About Laen Hershler & Vancouver Playback Theatre
Laen Hershler is a doctoral candidate in research-based theatre at UBC and the artistic director of Theatre Terrific, a Vancouver-based all abilities theatre company. A proponent of radically inclusive practices, Laen views theatre not merely as entertainment but as a potent force for social change and understanding. He is one of Vancouver Playback Theatre's multi-talented professionals helping individuals, communities, and organizations thrive by bringing people together to share stories and deepen dialogue through transformative experiences.