Sunday Arts Magazine

24 Apr 2022

Driftwood

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Driftwood – The Musical is a theatrical adaptation of Eva de Jong-Duldig’s critically acclaimed memoir, which tells the inspirational story of the renowned Austrian/Australian sculptor Karl Duldig and his artist/inventor wife, Slawa Horowitz-Duldig. The story takes in their romantic and artistic lives in pre-war Vienna and Slawa’s ingenious invention of the foldable umbrella. It follows the couple as they rebuild their lives as artists in Melbourne, but tragically almost all their relatives have died in the Holocaust.

Driftwood is a story of art and creativity, survival and perseverance, family and love. This is a piece of theatre about the resilience found through creativity and in the face of adversity. It is a story of survival and the endurance of the human spirit. It is also about displacement and finding solace and strength in family, art and community. While it is the story of the love between Karl and Slawa, two Viennese artists, it is also the story of one woman’s ingenuity, invention and adaptability.

Driftwood captures the universal narrative of seeking safety for yourself and your family, the lingering effects of intergenerational trauma and inspiringly shares the contribution one family has made to the nation.

The plight of refugees during wartime and the themes of loss, escape, migration, internment and resettlement remain relevant in modern Australia. They are dramatically illustrated through this uplifting true story of survival and add to its universal appeal. The themes also mirror today’s growing global dislocation, division, uncertainty and isolation, increased surveillance, fear, lockdowns, and closed borders, as well as the loss of community and connection that threatens our social fabric and, ultimately, our humanity.

The title reflects the transitory nature of ‘driftwood’, which drifts to a temporary resting place only to be picked up by the next wave and taken on a further unknown journey. This epic story crosses continents and tells a significant story of art and artists through history. Dark and tragic in parts, it is nevertheless embodied with a fierce element of hope, intelligence, tenacity and survival. Driftwood is more than a memoir. It is an inspiration. Eva weaves her remarkable story of escaping the Holocaust and overcoming its ghosts to find the key to freedom.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:25 — 9.5MB)

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