On 13 January 2025, young performers from the National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT), in collaboration with CORE Education Trust, Holocaust Educational Trust, and the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, performed at Buckingham Palace for His Majesty King Charles. The event honored the Echo Eternal programme, which uses creative arts to educate young people about the Holocaust and commemorate survivors’ testimonies.
The performance included three powerful pieces: Wiegala by Ilse Weber, We Are The Light with lyrics by Birmingham schoolchildren, and Weep No More, all reflecting themes of remembrance, defiance, and hope. The event paid tribute to Holocaust survivors Zigi Shipper and Zdenka Fantlova, with participants receiving a symbolic replica of Zdenka’s tin ring, representing resilience and legacy.
Performing as a violinist with the NYMT and Echo Eternal for the King was an unforgettable experience. Our performance at Buckingham Palace to start 2025 served as a powerful reminder of how the arts can be used to
Karolina Przasnyska, participant and NYMT member
honour the past and inspire hope for the future. As a young person, having the opportunity to be
involved in such a meaningful project was phenomenal. Having also had the chance to speak to King Charles, I felt as though my voice was heard alongside those performing – it is truly
something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Adrian Packer, CEO of NYMT and co-founder of Echo Eternal, highlighted the profound impact of the programme in educating students on genocide awareness while empowering youth voices through the arts. His Majesty praised the students’ performances and engaged them in discussions about the programme’s impact.
Echo Eternal, developed in 2018 with CORE Education Trust and journalist Natasha Kaplinsky OBE, continues to engage young people across the UK. NYMT is also holding auditions for its 2025 season, featuring iconic musicals and new works, further emphasizing its commitment to nurturing young talent and social impact through theatre.