CAMP, written and composed by Naomi Tessler, juxtaposes two 15 year old girls' experiences—Lila at Jewish sleepover camp in Canada and Greta- in Auschwitz- a concentration camp. This research and me-search informed play explores themes of womanhood, intergenerational trauma, sisterhood and resilience. Though separated through time, space and absolutely different life circumstances, both girls share stories of love, shame, sexual violence, overcoming oppression and singing as a form of resistance- leaving the audience with greater appreciation for the triumphs of young women and the importance of healing intergenerational wounds.
The play draws from playwright Naomi Tessler’s own lived experiences, along with channeled information from her ancestors, from other young women killed in the Holocaust, and the insight from memoirs of other young women who survived. Amongst all of these memoirs, there were two things that threaded them together: each author had experienced sexual violence, and held too much shame to share with their families for fear of further ostracization. Each author also used singing as a coping strategy.
*Camp won third place in the 2021 National Jewish Playwriting Competition
This play stands as a reminder that our pain is shared. If we are to move forward in our collective healing and build a world of peace for all peoples, where we recognize each other’s humanity–it begins with looking at our own stories, like the ones shared by Lila and Greta in our play: CAMP. The stories that have been buried, the wounds that need our collective attention to move towards deeper hope, with greater capacity to love each other unconditionally.
Written and Composed by: Naomi Tessler
Directed by: Alice Fox Lundy
Starring: Jada Rifkin and Naomi Tessler
Musicians:
Veronica Zupanic on violin
Iris Rhian on Guitar
Dramaturgy by: Alysse Rich
Instrumental Arrangements by: Tal Davidson and Dash Cole
Set Builder: Brett Lundy
Technician: Victoria Watson-Sepejak
Production Team: Alice Fox Lundy, Hailey Gardiner and Lisa Scianella and Adam Jessin
Dates and Times:
Thursday, Nov. 5th-7pm, with opening reception to follow
Friday, November 6th-1pm, with talkback to follow
Saturday, November 7th- 7pm, with talkback to follow
Sunday, November 8th- 7pm with reflection circle to follow
Monday, November 9th-1pm, with talkback to follow
Tuesday, November 10th-1pm, with talkback to follow
Thursday, November 12th- 7pm, with talkback to follow
Friday, November 13th- 1pm, with talkback to follow
Saturday, November 14th- 1pm with reflection circle to follow
Sunday, November 15th-3pm-7pm, Ancestral Healing workshop facilitated by Naomi Tessler
**Please note: This play explores sensitive subject matter pertaining to lived experiences of a girl in a concentration camp during the Holocaust including references to sexual violence. It is suitable strictly for audience members 14 and up.
Check out the Trailer Here:
Camp by Naomi Tessler Trailer .mov
Dates: November 5th–14th, 2026 (limited seating)
Sweet Action Theatre, 180 Shaw Street, Artscape Youngplace, Unit #106, Toronto
Age limit 14