World premiere of ‘inspirational’ show

A theatre presentation by a Beverley-based documentary producer, and endorsed by Hollywood film director Steven Spielberg, received its world premiere at the East Riding Theatre.

Harold’s War, produced by Jonathan Levy, tells the story of a Hull boy’s battle for Britain against the Nazis, along with his brothers, family and friends.

The production not only charts the events during World War Two through family experiences, it also recalls the tensions at home in Britain and on mainland Europe.
It includes the Battle of Corporation Field, which took place in Hull during 1936 when the British Union of Fascists leader Oswald Mosley and his Black Shirts were seen off by 10,000 dockers, railway workers and other anti-fascists and members of the local Jewish community.

The project is based around interviews with Harold and other family members nearly 30 years ago for a school project by Jonathan’s son, Daniel.

Those featured are no longer alive, however their recorded testimony has been made public for the first time, together with live narration and dramatized sequences of conversations that have been recreated and the letters that were exchanged.

The original project was praised by Spielberg after he was sent a copy by the Shoah Foundation archive of survivor stories.

The three-time Academy Award winner reemphasised his admiration for the project by sending his best wishes ahead of the premiere.

“Warmest admiration for continuing to craft a beautiful and touching tribute to the memory of your family,” he said.

“Projects like these are truly inspirational. More importantly, they honour the generation who lived through such dark times.

“We all wish you the very best for what will undoubtedly be a very moving performance.”
Harold is better known as Harold Bermitz, a former director of Hull City who ran a national sports advertising business founded in Hull, with his son Richard.

“Harold Bermitz was my father-in-law and the youngest son of refugee immigrants who had arrived in Hull via a boat from the Baltic in the early 20th century to escape violent pogroms, as had my own grandparents,” said Jonathan.

“The stimulus to create this production started last year as I became aware of the growing support for extreme right-wing movements in Europe, together with disturbing global events, conflicts and geopolitical volatility.

“The recent riots have only reinforced these concerns. They are essentially modern-day pogroms, but the overwhelming anti-fascist and anti-racism response is heartwarming and resonates with the stand taken in Hull back in the 1930s.”

Harold’s War received its world premiere in front of a capacity audience at the Beverley-based East Riding Theatre, where it was captured as a radio-style podcast recording.

The documentary will be the focus for an educational pack, which further learning resources.
Among the local cast of actors was Hannah Levy, Harold’s granddaughter, Hull-born Robert Wade, and Richard Avery, the project’s co-producer and artistic director at East Riding Theatre.
Jonathan is an award-winning documentary producer who narrates the production he has written.