Bristol Am Dram update

A holiday visit to Krakow in Poland set local author and journalist Tom Phillips's mind working overtime about the life and fate of those who gathered in the wartime ghetto in that town and the death camps in which many of them ended their days.

Tom believes that, just as so many writers and film-makers reassessed the Second World War in the 1960s, now – 20 years after the end of the Cold War – is the right time to look again at the terrible events which originated in the early 1940s.

Where better to start than at what, on the face of it, was a routine conference to discuss future policy, which convened in the Berlin suburb of Wannsee on January 20, 1942. Here, this business meeting of senior officials of the Nazi party quietly and efficiently decided the fate of six million European Jews and began the process which was to set up the SS death camps.

Apart from the two women servants, played by Faye Banks and Gemma Saunders, who can bring a little black humour to the story, the otherwise all-male cast have little chance to lighten the mood.

Tom Phillips is obviously well aware, therefore, that the dialogue for this, his fifth play to receive a public performance, must be tight and completely accurate.

Having done a great deal of research, which included going through with a fine tooth comb the minutes of that fatal conference and transcripts of, amongst others, the trial of Adolf Eichmann in Jerusalem, Tom kept a close eye on early rehearsals, rewriting when necessary.

Now he tells me he believes his presence is probably a little intimidating for the actors and it is time to let go and leave the final development of the play in the safe hands of director Les Mountford and members of the Ship And Castle Company.

It is always exciting to be involved in a completely new project, and tension and excitement will be high on opening night – Wednesday, February 24.

Among a strong cast playing the Nazis at the conference are Simon Vardakis, Chris Parslow, Pete Townsend, Steve Woolley, Steve Williams and Ian Taylor.

The production runs until February 28 and you can get further details by telephoning 956 1695 or emailing shipandcastletickets@yahoo.co.uk.

● A correction on some information passed last week about Portishead Players' next production at Somerset Hall. The dates are still the same – February 12 to 14 – but John Morley's pantomime Dick Whittington has now been replaced by Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. Kate Strong is in charge of the production, which has 7.30 evening performances and a 2pm matinee on Saturday. Call 01275 843169.