Dame Maureen Lipman Remembers… The Evacuees

Overview

Dame Maureen Lipman shares her experiences of playing her own mother-in-law in the TV film The Evacuees, an autobiographical account written by her late husband Jack Rosenthal of his experiences as a young evacuee in wartime. Lipman discusses the depths of Rosenthal's touching, funny and political play, which documents the experiences of two young Jewish brothers as they navigate life in the cold, unfeeling home of Mr and Mrs Graham. Directed by Alan Parker as one of his first full length features, Maureen talks about working with the then up-and-coming director, and how his filmic touch made this Play for Today something truly special. A moving account of Jewish working class life during wartime, The Evacuees won an International Emmy and a Bafta on its release, and Lipman explores how its themes are still relevant today.