THEATRE Imp present the European premiere of Irena’s Vow at the National Centre for Early Music, York, on Monday (Feb 17) and Tuesday to coincide with commemorations for Holocaust Memorial Day.

Written by Dan Gordon and already presented on Broadway, it tells the true story of Irene Gut’s courage in the face of overwhelming adversity in occupied Poland.

Constructing his play from conversations with Irene Opdyke (as she was later known), Gordon creates a suspenseful, affecting narrative that combines Polish, Jewish and German observations with Irena’s wit and irony.

Irena Gut spent her young adult years enduring the hardships that came with the German occupation of Poland, witnessing first-hand the gruesome treatment of Jews, gipsies and dissidents of all nationalities. Still in her teens and at great risk to her own life, Irena began a rescue campaign, initially smuggling people and food into the woods.

However, Irena’s Aryan looks led Major Rugemer to offer her the post of housekeeper in his villa. It was here, while waiting on her employer and other officers, that she learned the true fate of her friends in the ghetto and realised she had no choice but to rescue them.

Remaining silent for many years afterwards, Irene finally spoke out when confronted by a Holocaust denier and her amazing story finally emerged. In 1982, she was recognised by Yad Vashem as one of the “Righteous Among Nations”, an honour given to a non-Jewish person for immense acts of bravery.

Directed by University of York post-graduate student Chantelle Thornley, Theatre Imp’s production of Irena’s Vow is the first outside America and the East Midlands social enterprise theatre company is “delighted and honoured” to be joined every night by Irene’s daughter, Jeannie Opdyke Smith.

“Irena died in 2003 but I contacted Jeannie in 2012 and she is flying from Washington DC, USA, to be with us for the whole production, both in Lincoln and York,” says Chantelle. “Jeannie also will be giving a talk about her mother's incredible story during her stay in York.”

In addition, the last remaining survivor of Irena's rescue, Mr Roman Haller, is travelling from Munich for the premiere.

“I’ve also just had an email from the film director who is making Irena’s Vow into a film – Martin Choroba from Munich – to say he is coming over from Germany to see our production,” says Chantelle.

Theatre Imp was set up by founding artistic director Chantelle Thornley in 2012 expressly to premiere Irena’s Vow’s story of humanity and personal defiance. “This is our first production and is the culmination of nearly a year of research and work that I’ve done,” says Chantelle, who works in the health service but also has 28 years’ experience in theatre.

“Everyone involved with the play – and we are a small company – is very excited about this production.

From my personal point of view, ever since I saw the production in preview on Broadway, it has felt like 'a story that just has to be told'. I feel incredibly privileged to be achieving this in my home city of Lincoln and then repeating the play in my adopted city of York, where I’m undertaking a postgraduate degree.”

Irena's Vow will be staged at the NCEM on Monday at 7.30pm and Tuesday at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Box office: 01904 658338 or ncem.co.uk