We sat down with director and writer Erik Kahn whose thriller Canned Goods comes to the Southwark Playhouse Borough from 16th Jan to 8th Feb.
Canned Goods tells the gripping true story of a little-known – but pivotal – moment in history.
- Can you tell us about Canned Goods?
Canned Goods is based on a German operation designed to keep the UK out of WW2 long enough to allow the Nazis to launch a single front war against Russia. If their plan had worked, there could have been a horrific nightmare of Nazi dominance in Europe that likely would have lasted for generations. Basically, Himmler planned false attacks on Germans by people dressed as Polish soldiers, as justification for invading Poland on September 1, 1939 – the start of WW2.
- What drew you to the specific historical moment depicted in Canned Goods? Why is it important to bring this story to light now?
Everything about this story rings true today – false facts, invasions of sovereign countries, the rise of autocrats and of course the never-ending hatred of Jews.
- The play revolves around themes of propaganda and manipulation of truth. How do you think these themes are relevant in today’s political climate, especially with the rise of “fake news” and social media?
Sadly, the times change but people – and their awful treatment of each other – that seem to stay the same.
- How did you balance the historical accuracy of the event with the emotional depth of the characters? Was there a specific moment in writing the play where this became particularly challenging?
I’m not an historian and this play is not intended to be a history lesson. I did research the events and tried my best to portray facts as accurately as possible. The point of the play though is the characters. I wanted to examine how people of different backgrounds relate to each other and to their oppressor at a time when their lives are at risk. I also thought it would be interesting to look at the Nazi Major who controls the three prisoners as a real person, not an archetype.
- The characters in Canned Goods come from very different walks of life—a farmer, a Jewish philosopher, and a German janitor. How did you decide on this particular trio, and what do they represent in the larger narrative?
The farmer Honiok was a real person, although not much is known about him. The German and Jewish prisoners are fictional characters. The Jewish character studies Christian theology. I suppose my thinking is that religious inquiry can be a product of intellectual curiosity rather than ideology, and that Birnbaum’s primary role is to reflect humanity not tribalism. The German character is in some ways base and amoral, but he is still a human being with deeply held beliefs formed from a difficult childhood. In short, they are all just people.
- The title Canned Goods is intriguing. What does it symbolize in the context of the play and the characters’ fates?
The Germans dehumanized. It is difficult to murder ones neighbors, teachers and colleagues. How better to dehumanize one’s victims than to refer to them as Canned Goods – products pulled from a shelf.
- The tension in the play is palpable as the Nazis prepare to stage an attack. How did you work to maintain suspense while exploring deeper philosophical themes like survival and morality?
The characters struggle to understand how and why they are going to be used by the Nazis. They also evolve, in a short period of time, obtaining a strength that comes from recognizing that oppression can only go so far, and that we are all in charge of our own will and sense of dignity or humanity. At the same time, it is interesting to watch Major Naujocks sparring with the prisoners, learning about them, respecting them on some level, while also maintaining his will to commit evil.
- What was the most surprising thing you discovered while researching the historical event that inspired this play?
The history of this event struck me as something out of an episode of the Godfather or the Sopranos. It is in many respects the work of low-level criminals, but with broader implications that could have changed the world.
- How do you think Canned Goods speaks to the broader human experience of being manipulated by larger political forces?
The evil of autocracy typically requires extinguishing liberal humanism. The first thing dictators do is take away books. Then they tend to imprison or kill anyone who supports independent thought. The Khmer Rouge first killed people who wore glasses, because those with glasses were more likely to be educated and literate. In the Cultural Revolution, the students under Mao beat and killed their teachers. In every age, it is important to protect speech and free thinking at all costs.
- What do you hope audiences take away from the play, particularly in terms of understanding the power of narrative and truth in times of conflict?
I am grateful for the opportunity to share the play with curious people and am hopeful that the play results in thinking, questions and even arguments. In the end, I am more interested in provoking thought than in telling people what they should or should not think about the play.
- What do you hope audiences will take away from the show?
Birnbaum says that “The fire of hatred has burned here long before Hitler. And that hatred will continue to burn long after he is gone.” I think that sums things up for me.