Hoor de vrouwen zingen (Hear the women sing)

Ode to Humanity, Humor, and Music in Time of War

In the music theatre documentary "Hear the Women Sing," songs are sung and stories told of four remarkable prisoners of Camp Vught during World War II: resistance fighters Hetty Voûte and Gisela Söhnlein, poet David Koker, and diamond cutter Lotty Veffer.

Students Hetty Voûte and Gisela Söhnlein write and sing reflective texts about camp life during their captivity, as well as existing songs under the names Pooh and Piglet, keeping up spirits and providing diversion to their fellow prisoners. "Spinning, always spinning, and yet we never go to the sharks!"

David Koker and Lotty Veffer

Jewish student David Koker keeps a diary on tracing paper in the camp, which he smuggles out, allowing it to be published after the war. He, too, occasionally sings songs in Camp Vught, together with his brother Max, and writes poems. "One can guess spring in the morning wind, and from the plains, a clear mist rises the light falls in sunny grace over the red houses of our camp." He does not survive the camps.

Jewish diamond cutter Lotty Veffer survives the horrors of various camps as the only one from her family, thanks to her employment at Philips, her friendships, and sheer luck. "We had a fairly decent, at least I had a very nice, phew yeah because that's what you say in the end, a very nice Aufseherin."

Each character offers a different view of life in the Vught camp, demonstrating incredible resilience and perspective. This musical performance is an ode to humanity, humour, and music in times of war.