The link between the local community and Odette Hallowes, one of WW2’s most decorated operatives, was underlined on Friday with two stunning performances of A Little Green Leaf by Canadian theatre company, Tumbleweeds Theatre, first at Court Fields School and then at Wellington Arts Centre.
As the recipient of the George Cross, Britain’s highest honour for wartime service (and uniquely awarded while she was still alive) and the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur by the French Government, Odette has been the subject of a film, an autobiography and a number of books.
Her place in more local history – she moved from London with her three children at the outbreak of war to live just outside Wellington – was part of the Actiontrack community theatre project, The Wondrous Tales of the Whiteball Tunnel, at St John’s Church, Wellington, in 2014.
The following year, Nancy Powell Brace opened Odette’s teashop in Wellington High Street in her honour.
The production of A Little Green Leaf has toured the UK since August to coincide with the marking of the 80th anniversary of the end of WW2; Wellington’s significance in Odette’s story is fitting in being the final location.
A Little Green Leaf by Kimberly Denness-Thomas is an entirely original dramatic production. It is a realisation of some of the key moments in Odette’s extraordinary experiences as a member of the Special Operations Executive working behind enemy lines with the Resistance in France beginning in 1942.
She was betrayed in April 1943 by a double agent, Hugo Bleicher, arrested, imprisoned by the Gestapo in Paris and tortured.
Refusing to give away any information about her contacts for months, she was finally sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp where, despite being kept in solitary confinement in the dark, starved and beaten, her determination, courage and quite incredible fortitude sustained her until her release in 1945.
The title of the play comes from the following extract from her autobiography:
“Somewhere in the vast spaces of the sky, a wind had risen and, impelled by a strength and a direction beyond human knowledge, had stirred the branches of a tree and had lifted a leaf and carried it gently down onto the ground of Ravensbrück to be picked up by hands that had great need of it.
“My guards paid little attention. They were totally unconscious of the significance of the treasure I had acquired. They did not know, as they slammed the door of my cell, that I held in my fingers a most potent link with the forces of life and freedom. As one weary day followed another the leaf became more and more precious to me.”
Odette’s story itself – as told in the script of this production – illustrates powerfully the extent to which moral and psychological absolutes can support human beings faced with extreme deprivation and cruelty.
Alongside this, Tumbleweeds’ methods of telling the story in the simplest but most effective ways have much to offer to audiences, not least to Performing Arts students.
With just two fine actors – one adopting multiple roles with minimal but effective changes in dress and physicality – and using back projection, shadow play, torches, dolls and a highly effective puppet – the dramatisation of the whole production was powerful and entirely compelling.
It is worth noting that the company’s Associate Producer, Louise Higham, is the eldest daughter of Marianne, Odette’s youngest child.
Louise regularly gives talks about her grandmother and is involved with various groups which honour her memory and use her story to inspire others.
The audience at the Arts Centre included Wellington’s Mayor, Cllr Janet Lloyd, members of Wellington Theatre Company and Nancy Powell Brace.
She was first contacted by Kimberly Denness-Thomas last year to suggest Wellington as a venue for the production – an idea which was then supported by Wellington Theatre Company.
Nancy’s role in keeping Odette’s story alive was acknowledged by Kimberly Denness-Thomas in the post-performance question and answer session.
This was a very strong performance. Clever puppetry and lighting meant the 3 actors gave an easy to follow performance. The panel at the end allowed the story to be expanded. This play needs more recognition. Thank you Nancy for bringing it to Wellington