The past is never dead. It’s not even past. – William Faulkner
Peltzman’s poignant solo show Dedication explores the powerful role of music in helping to relieve wounds that will never fully heal. Recounting his coming to terms with second generation survivor trauma, Peltzman’s Dedication explores his family’s tragic history fleeing the Nazi invasion in war-torn Europe. After learning about his uncle Norbert Stern, a brilliant pianist, who was murdered in Auschwitz aged 21, Peltzman developed a fascination with his inheritance. Holocaust trauma can be inherited by the next generation, but through music, one-man tribute Dedication looks at how art can begin to heal.
After an acclaimed run in New York and at the Edinburgh Fringe, Dedication will be making its London debut at Marylebone Theatre, London’s newest cross-arts venue. Roger Peltzman’s solo show is a deeply poetic recount of his family’s harrowing escape from Berlin to Brussels in 1933, centering on his Uncle Norbert, taken in his prime by Nazi rule. By using projection, imagery, and musical performances of everything from blues to Chopin, Peltzman re-establishes a legacy for his family in this extraordinary yet relatable Holocaust story. Dedication seeks to heal ancestral wounds and pay tribute to a past that has become present, telling the story of second-generation survival.
Writer and performer Roger Peltzman comments, as survivors dwindle – the next generation must pick up the gauntlet. With Dedication I’m trying to share with audiences the history and lessons of the Holocaust – not to mention the legacy of trauma. By focusing on my family – and my passionate desire for connection– the vastness of the holocaust, and its legacy, becomes personal.
Previous praise for Dedication:
Peltzman’s one-hour solo show is put together with such grace, beauty, and sorrow that it offers a richly rewarding and thoughtful experience. At key moments during the show, Peltzman takes to the grand piano on stage, and plays like an angel. ★★★★ Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman
The combination of story, music, history, and heart is incredibly potent and poignant. An extraordinary story… powerful and moving – ★★★★ The Wee Review
A beautiful celebration of a lost talent ★★★★ UKTW
