We were very pleased to welcome Marc Lalonde (Lektor) and students from ‘The Tudors’ – this is the name of the drama group within the Institute for English and American Studies at the Technische Universität in our partner city of Dresden. This was the group’s fourth visit and this time around they were reading ‘Poems for Gaza’. The readings were from Anita Barrows, a US poet, who was, and continues to be, shaken by events in Gaza and has written a poem a day, bearing witness to the humanitarian crisis as it has unfolded over 873 days (by today’s date) (see https://www.poemsforgaza.com).
The poems were read by Charlie, Arthur, Tim, Annika, Illija, Katja, Elise, Emilia and Michelle with clarity and feeling and the evening felt traumatic as we were given an insight into a world of unimaginable woe. Marc was keen to say that they also put on lighter plays back in Dresden but somehow when they are touring they generally find themselves dealing with traumatic events. On their next visit they hope to perform something about the war in Ukraine, triggered by Marc’s visits there.
The focus of their and our concern in presenting this reading was peace and reconciliation. We discussed what this might mean and someone asked: ‘How was it possible to talk of reconciliation given the nature of the suffering in Gaza?’ One answer was that all we can bear witness to what has happened and ask, demand, our political leaders make sure that they understand our concern. Not a great answer but is there a better one?
In spite of, or maybe because of, the difficult subject matter they deal with we look forward to seeing The Tudors again in Coventry soon.
Michael
Marc Lalonde adds:
The Tudors of Dresden were happy to be back in Coventry for a fourth time after performing ‘Train of Life’ in 2020, ‘Last Stop: Clausnitz’ in 2022 and ‘In Darfur’ in 2024. Anita Barrows, American poet and psychologist, graciously allowed The Tudors to read a selection from her ‘Poems for Gaza’, 854 poems, one per day speaking to the most recent war in Palestine. Each student was allotted approximately 100 poems and was told to choose five to recite at the Coventry Friends’ Meeting House on 20 February 2026. Forty people attended the reading, including the Lord Mayor Rachel Lancaster, Coventry Poet Laureate Andrea Mbarushimana and the Cathedral Canon Kate Massey. This was followed by a discussion with the audience, clearly moved by Ms. Barrows compassionate words and the students’ emotional delivery.
We would like to thank CAIF for, once again, making our stay in Coventry an unforgettable experience: from the trouble-free airport pick-up and drop-off by David and Monika, Richard’s wonderful guided tour of the Cathedral, the delicious lunch at the Cosy Club offered by David Fish, and Nikolai’s perfect organisation of our day in Stratford-upon-Avon. Thanks also to Linda and Balbir for their help and kindness.
On 5 March 2026, The Tudors will have a second reading of Anita Barrows’ “Poems for Gaza” in the beautiful baroque Oratorium Marianum at the University of Wrocław in Poland.
Coventry Association for International Friendship 