In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.
— Anne Frank, 1929-1944
Over one million children perished in the Holocaust. Anne Frank was one of these children. Barter Theatre’s production of The Diary of Anne Frank, the play based on the classic work of nonfiction Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, brings her story to life. Its character development, key plot lines and are adapted from words of real people, creating a setting to help us relate to Anne on different levels: personal, social, political, ethical, and historical. The Diary of Anne Frank is suitable for a range ofcurriculum applications, from history to English. This study guide, which may be adapted for grades 6-12, provides a brief introduction to the play for teachers and students who may utilize it in association with a trip to Barter Theatre’s presentation. It is designed to supplement instruction of students interested in learning about the remarkable spirit of a young girl who lived and perished during a time when difference was not tolerated by Adolf Hitler and when some people risked their own lives to help others like Anne Frank and her family.
As Anne Frank’s is an uplifting a story during ominous times, so too is the history of the Barter Theatre itself.
During the Depression, Robert Porterfield, an enterprising young actor, returned to his native Southwest Virginia with an extraordinary proposition: Bartering (hence the theatre’s name) produce from the farms and gardens of the region to gain admission to see a play. So on June 10, 1933, Barter Theatre opened its doors, proclaiming “With vegetables you cannot sell, you can buy a good laugh.” The price of admission was 40 cents or equivalent amount of produce. Four out of five Depression-era theatre goers paid their way with vegetables, dairy products and livestock. Today, at least one performance a year celebrates the Barter heritage by accepting donations for an area food bank as the price of admission.
