EVENT: LOTTE’S GIFT

When award-winning playwright David Williamson met renowned concert pianist Karin Schaupp, he realised that Karin had a unique and beautiful story to tell. He went on to write a one-woman show for Karin about the life of her grandmother Lieslotte ‘Lotte’ Reinke.  “She had a one in a million singing voice and her career was thwarted by the men in her life – her father and her husband, and then the war – but despite all of that she’s an amazingly positive person, very resilient and very funny,” says Schaupp. “She actually gave me my first guitar, hence the name Lotte’s Gift.” The performance consists of a conversation between Karin and Lotte. Throughout their discussion, Karin also plays music that is connected to the family story. “I play myself and my grandmother and I prod her to tell me about her life,” says Schaupp. “I ask her questions that I had, as her granddaughter never dared ask her before.” Now in its fifth year, Lotte’s Gift was recently reworked – it is the intimacy of the story and Shaupp’s unique talents that no doubt, have audiences coming back for more.  “I cry every time I tell them story, there are some very sad moments and some very beautiful moments.”

Nov 12, City Recital Hall, Angel Place, $50-55, 8256 2222, cityrecitalhall.com