
About
A puppeteer’s journey to Terezin: The Lost Play of 14 year old Hanus HachenburgIn 1999, puppeteer Gary Friedman discovered a puppet play titled We Are Looking for a Monster, written sometimes between 1943–44 by 14-year-old Hanuš Hachenburg in the Terezin concentration camp. Hanus never saw his play performed—he was murdered in Auschwitz on his 15th birthday. Gary, moved by the brilliance and tragedy of this young writer, began a decades-long journey to uncover Hanus’s story.
Hanus, raised by his mother in Prague after his parents divorced, spent five years in a Jewish orphanage before being deported to Terezin. There, he helped produce Vedem, a literary magazine written by and for the boys in the camp.
In this event, Gary will share his personal quest to honour Hanus’s legacy, screen excerpts from his upcoming documentary, and perform scenes from the puppet play. The event will feature live violin accompaniment by Jewish-Russian composer Misha Doumnov.
Date
Sunday 10 August 2025 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM (UTC+10)