"Nobody Told Me" - Premiere of a play on a Polish-Jewish theme in Johannesburg
28.01.2026
The premiere of Luc Albinski's play "Nobody Told Me" took place on 28 January 2026 at the "Theatre on the Square" in Johannesburg. It was a moving war drama inspired by the true story of Dr. Halina Rotstein, a Polish Jew, doctor, mother of Wanda Albinska, and grandmother of Luc Albinski. Following the performance, a panel discussion was held, with the participation of, among others, Jan Łazicki, Plenipotentiary of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Contacts with the Jewish Diaspora.
In 1940, the German authorities began establishing ghettos for the Jewish population in occupied Poland. It is estimated that approximately 1,000 doctors, including Dr. Rotstein, were imprisoned in the Warsaw Ghetto. Most of them worked in the two hospitals and clinics located there. Conditions worsened from week to week due to severe shortages of medicine and food. Over time, treatment was limited to basic nursing care, while hospitals were gradually closed. Despite all adversities, Jewish doctors managed to build a healthcare system. Dr. Halina Rotstein, despite the possibility of escaping the ghetto, remained with her patients until the end. She gave away the documents offered to her that would have allowed her to function outside the ghetto. In 1942, along with 900 patients and 50 staff members, she was deported to Treblinka, where she was murdered. Wanda Albińska and her siblings were smuggled out of the ghetto and taken to a Catholic orphanage.
Through an intimate lens of family memory, the play "Nobody Told Me" reveals a crucial chapter in Polish and Jewish history, addressing themes of courage, moral responsibility, and humanity in the face of extreme cruelty. The play immerses audiences in the emotional and ethical realities of life under German occupation, and the experiences resonate strongly with Polish wartime and cultural memory.
The play was directed by Ilina Perianova, a renowned and award-winning director, producer, and screenwriter of the younger generation, originally from Bulgaria. Perianova, who comes from a multicultural family, has been exposed to diverse artistic and cinematic traditions since childhood.
The performance was followed by a panel discussion with Jan Łazicki, Plenipotentiary of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Relations with the Jewish Diaspora; Jacek Chodorowicz, Head of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria; Luc Albinski and Wanda Albinska; Ilina Perianova; and Tali Nates, Director of the Holocaust and Genocide Centre in Johannesburg. The discussion was moderated by Rob Katz. Jan Łazicki spoke about Polish initiatives that preserve the memory of the victims of World War II, including the Warsaw Ghetto Museum. Jacek Chodorowicz introduced the audience to the phenomenon of the "Żegota" organization, emphasizing its contribution to saving Jews during the German occupation.
The play generated enormous interest. Among the large audience were Holocaust survivor Wanda Albinska, the play's heroine, and Irene Klaas, who was born in Łódź, representatives of the diplomatic corps, Jewish communities and organizations, the media, and residents of Johannesburg and Pretoria.
The play can be seen at the "Theatre on the Square" in Johannesburg until February 7th.
Photos: Joanna Kruze/Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria
