Trinity High pupils perform play about Holocaust

Feb 17 2010 by Kenny Smith, Rutherglen Reformer

TWO Trinity High School pupils recently performed a play telling of the horrors of the Holocaust.

Third year pupils Vincent Deighan and Brogan Watt donned concentration camp outfits which they wore while delivering their dramatic piece on victims and survivors of the Holocaust, as part of the Holocaust area event.

The outfits were created by fifth year pupil Rachel Olulode under the supervision of Mrs Kinley of the home economics department.

Here is a brief description of their contribution to the memorial event:

Amidst a raft of excellent pieces by pupils from all over the Cambuslang and Rutherglen area to remind everyone present of the Holocaust was a dramatic piece presented by Vincent and Brogan.

Vincent told the story of a Jewish man who was fortunate enough to survive the horrors of the concentration camp and build a new life for himself in America. This reflected the theme of this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day, ‘A legacy of hope’.

Brogan told the story of the ‘forgotten Holocaust’ with her piece as a Sinti (gypsy) child who suffered at the hands of the Angel of Death, Dr Joseph Mengele, due to being a twin.

Brogan described the horrible experiments carried out on children in the camps, often without anaesthesia.

She explained that many people were unaware of the systematic killing of the Sinti and Roma people at the hands of the Nazis, which resulted in approximately 25 per cent of their population being killed.

Brogan’s character dies in the camps, shot against the wall outside Menegele’s office because he had finished carrying out experiments on her and she had outlived her usefulness.

Meanwhile, the Trinity High School history/modern studies department organised a trip to London leaving on Friday February 5 and returning the following day.

A total of 52 S4 – S6 students accompanied by six teachers visited the Houses of Parliament, where local MP Tommy McAvoy organised a fantastic tour of both houses and also arranged a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, giving students and staff the chance to take photographs outside the famous black door of 10 Downing Street, home of the Prime Minister.

Mr McAvoy also arranged for the students to stand on the floor of the House of Commons, where students could experience the atmosphere of the debating chamber.

The Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP also accepted a petition calling for the government to do more to encourage Fair Trade. The petition was gathered by S2 Fair Traders and it contained over 600 signatures in support of their issue.

The students were captivated by the tour and a hearty vote of thanks goes to Mr McAvoy from all the pupils for taking time out from his busy schedule and arranging such a wonderful experience for the students.

This was followed by a trip to the Lyceum Theatre, where the students were captivated by the spectacle of The Lion King.

The costumes and singing was “awesome” according to some students and many thought that this was the best piece of theatre they had ever seen.

After a good night’s rest and a breakfast at 8am, everyone made their way to the Imperial War Museum where artefacts from past conflicts kept the students engrossed for a couple of hours.

Many of the students also passed through the Holocaust Exhibit which, coming so soon after the Holocaust Memorial Event hosted by Trinity, gave an added poignancy to the visit as it was still fresh in the students’ minds.

Students commented on the fact that the exhibit was so quiet, despite there being huge numbers in the exhibit hall.