Students take centre stage in national Holocaust commemoration at London Royal Ballet School

The performance took place on Monday at the Royal Ballet School in Covent Garden and brought together Holocaust survivors, their families and young performers to honour the first group of child Holocaust survivors brought to Britain.

Students from Rockwood Academy, City Academy, Arena Academy and Jewellery Quarter Academy were at the heart of the performance, working alongside young performers from the Royal Ballet School, the National Youth Music Theatre Company and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Through music, movement and spoken word, the students engaged directly with survivor testimony, helping to bring the history and lessons of the Holocaust to life for a new generation.

Now in its ninth year, Echo Eternal was created by CORE Education Trust to ensure that Holocaust survivor voices remain central to education as living memory passes into history. This year’s performance was inspired by the life and testimony of Harry Olmer MBE, one of the Windermere Children, who died earlier this month aged 98. His family attended the performance, which served as a tribute to his lifelong commitment to sharing his experiences with young people.

In the lead-up to the performance, all four CORE schools have taken part in Holocaust education assemblies this month led by Lu Lawrence, daughter of Holocaust survivor Zigi Shipper BEM. During her visits, students heard about her father’s experiences and their lasting impact.

These assemblies have played a vital role in preparing students for their involvement in Echo Eternal, deepening their understanding of the Holocaust and reinforcing the importance of accurate history at a time when misinformation and distortion are on the rise.

With fewer survivors now able to share their stories in person, the participation of Birmingham students in Echo Eternal highlights the growing responsibility placed on young people to carry these stories forward with care, accuracy and compassion.

Adrian Packer CBE, CEO of CORE Education Trust and co-founder of Echo Eternal, said: “Echo Eternal is rooted in the testimony of Holocaust survivors. With fewer and fewer still alive, it is vital that their experiences continue to be heard and understood, particularly by young people. The engagement of our Birmingham students, supported by the recent visits from Lu Lawrence, shows how powerful education can be when it connects young people directly to lived experience. Echo Eternal brings generations together to remember, reflect, and ensure the lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten.”