Leopold Lind, in Year 6 at Wellington College, recently played the youngest role in the musical Jews in Shanghai.

The musical commemorated the seventieth anniversary of the end of World War II, focusing on the tacit love of a Jewish engineer and a Shanghainese woman. The musical portrays the relationship between the city’s residents and the 20,000 Jewish refugees who sought shelter in Shanghai. In the tragic musical, the Jewish engineer volunteers to assist at a factory which is made to produce for the Japanese who occupy the city.

Mr Larsen-Disney, Wellington Director of Performing Arts was “impressed by the discipline and focus Leo demonstrated on stage within this epic piece of historically based theatre”.

Leo, who was the youngest member of the cast, played the role of Jacob, an orphaned Jewish immigrant. Leo remarks upon how he enjoyed his position as the child of the cast, as his elders reassured him despite his nerves of performing in front of a 2,000 strong audience. Rehearsals for the production were conducted during the summer holidays in preparation for the four performances in early September.

With aspirations of becoming an actor (or scientist) in the future, Leo valued the opportunity to gain the experience of working in a professional production.

Leo looks forward to taking part in more plays or musicals to expand his repertoire. We will look out for what this young Wellingtonian does next.