IWitness
by Joshua Sobol
by Joshua Sobol
IWitness explores the final day of Franz Jagerstatter, who refuses to compromise his principles in the face of death for his beliefs against the Nazi regime.
About The Play
About The Play
In 1943, an Austrian farmer named Franz Jagerstatter was beheaded for refusing to wear a Nazi uniform and serve in the army of the Third Reich. IWitness, based on that true story, is set during Jagerstatter’s final day in prison, where his friends and loved ones come to plead with him to abandon his principles to save his life. Jagerstatter remains one of the leading Christian martyr’s of the 20th century. The Priest who was with him when he was executed wrote “I can say with certainty that this simple man is the only saint I have ever met in my lifetime.”
IWitness was written in a period of awakening for the conscientious objectors movement in Israel, following years of Israeli occupation in the Palestinian territories. Joshua Sobol says: “IWitness played for six months at the Cameri in Israel with full houses; nobody was fooled that it was just about conscientious objection during the Second World War.”
Cast
Sergeant Bastian – James Henry Parker
Franz Jägerstätter – Mel Raido
Maria – Lucja Nowicka/Natalia Tatarka
Margaret – Leah Muller
Franca – Natalie Radmall-Quirke
Dr Raps – Lucinda Millward
Martin – Jonathan Bryan
Hans – Richard Atwill Schreiber – James Henry Parker
Ranft – Leah Muller
Feldmann – Jonathan Bryan
Vice-Admiral Arps – Lucinda Millward
General Mussof – Richard Atwill
Father Jochmann – Richard Atwill
Warden – Jonathan Bryan