When we think of Allied prisoners of war in German camps, we often picture barbed wire, watchtowers, tunnels, and the constant urge to escape. Stalag Luft III is remembered above all for the Great Escape, one of the most famous prison breaks of the Second World War.
But captivity was not only a story of tunnels and wire.
Inside the camp, prisoners built theatres, staged plays, organised concerts, and, for a few hours, transformed the camp into something very different. In a world of boredom, uncertainty, and confinement, performance offered laughter, purpose, and a reminder of life beyond the fences.
In this episode, I explore that remarkable story with David McCormack, author of ‘The Great Escapism: The Theatrical Entertainers of Stalag Luft III’.
