On Christmas Eve in 1914, in the damp, muddy trenches on the Western Front of the First World War, something truly remarkable occurred – an event that came to be known as the Christmas Truce and remains one of the most beautiful Christmas stories.
It was on that very night in 1914 when soldiers on opposing sides set aside their weapons to share a heartwarming moment of peace and love during World War I.
Late on Christmas Eve, German troops began unwrapping gifts from home, many of which included Christmas trees adorned with candles. As the German soldiers lit their lanterns and displayed them at the edge of their trenches, carol singing spontaneously broke out. The song "Silent Night" echoed through the frosty air, and people from different nations met in no man's land to sing together, exchange wishes, greetings, and gifts. Handshakes and words of kindness flowed freely as enemies briefly became friends, spreading a powerful message of love throughout the world. In the midst of chaos, people were creating spaces of togetherness and compassion with a truly profound understanding: that the essence of our shared humanity transcends borders, conflict, and the most trying of circumstances.
Through this poetic documentary theater performance, the English Theatre Society aims to explore the question, "What does it mean to love, and how can the magic of Christmas heal the world?" The collective global history is intertwined with our personal stories, the tales of our own magical Christmas, with poetry and literary texts leading us on a journey where the light of human kindness can shine through, and unity and love can flourish.
Documentation video from the performance " The real magic of Christmas or how to heal the world " | English Theatre Society, School of IM Panagiotopoulos
Documentation video from the performance " The real magic of Christmas or how to heal the world " | Song: For Unification of Europe
Teaching - Directing: Irini Kalogeropoulou
Cast: The English Theatre Society | School of IM Panagiotopoulos
December 2023
