"Broken Instruments"

Deda at Derby.

This is my first visit to Deda in Derby, and what a lovely place it is, and perfect for this kind of production. And with a multi storey car park just across from Deda's entrance, you don't even have to hunt for parking, which by the way is very reasonably priced.

"Broken Instruments" is a new play with music, as opposed to a musical, written by William Varnam with music and lyrics by Phil Baggaley and Mark Edwards. Inspired by a book called "Violins Of Hope" by James A Grymes. the origins of this performance goes back to before Covid, which is when I first became aware of the music that I heard performed live this evening.

"Broken Instruments" is a story of survival as retold by an Holocaust survivor, Ari Vander, a musician and a very special violin. While the characters are fictional, the story told is factual.

Set in 1938, it relates the tale of Ari's love of jazz music and the violin. His brother boarded a ship and Ari gave him his violin to take with him. The violin was sold to help the new life, and via a letter back to Ari, the story of the instrument continued. The Nazis banned Jews from playing their own music, especially jazz, and following one undercover music concert, Ari's hopes come crashing down. It's also the descriptive tale of the treatment of the Jews by the Nazis.

On meeting an old friend, his love of jazz is re-ignited, showing us all the power of music can unite people and can help carry you through anything. Ari is asked to repair a violin, as he now has his own workshop after the war, and...... well I won't spoil the ending for you as it's quite beautiful.

All of the music is original and beautifully composed. the songs are like spider webs; delicate and beautifully constructed, and in the correct hands, complete works of art; art that tells a story.

The story telling of the violin and Ari's recollections are breath takingly good and I, personally, hung on to every word, building pictures in my mind; the two vocalists expertly painting pictures for the almost packed audience while Phil Baggaley accompanied on guitar and Mark Edwards on accordion and piano.

Directed by Daniel Ellis, we were greeted by a warm feeling, old fashioned front room type of surrounding with an old fashioned style radio that opened the play. Musical instruments festooned the set along with a gorgeous candelabra which, when lit created a very intimate atmosphere for this intimate story.

The production is 180 minutes long with no interval.

"Broken Instruments" is at Deda in Derby only until Saturday 28 January, so I'd take advantage of this special piece of theatre and get a ticket as soon as you can.