The dilemma faced by a Dutch woman who helped many Jews escape during the Nazi Holocaust is tackled in a gritty new play being created by local students.

Cornelia "Corrie" ten Boom, from Amsterdam, was a Dutch Christian, who, along with her father and other family members helped many Jews escape but her family was arrested due to an informant in 1944.

She spent time at the Ravensbruck concentration camp before moving to America, and now students from Bradford Christian School, in Livingstone Road, Bolton Woods, will be treading the boards at Bingley Arts Centre in January to tell her story, following on from books that have been written about her experiences including her autobiography The Hiding Place.

Twenty five youngsters from year seven through to year eleven will star in the three-day play starting on January 31 with a 13-year-old playing the lead part of Corrie.

Deputy headteacher Steve Heath said that the story of Corrie was well known in Christian circles and they were using the adaptation created by a Christian theatre company in America.

“The purpose is to challenge people spiritually and to put on really good theatre,” he said.

“Corrie ten Boom’s family owned a watch shop and ended up helping Jewish people during the Second World War and wrestled with the question of when does a Christian disobey the law?

“The Nazis are coming and are you going to say yes or no when they ask if you are hiding Jews there?

“How do you conduct yourself as a Christian in a prison cell?

“We have teachers and students in the play and ten of the cast will be heading to Holland in January to see Corrie’s house which is now a museum.”

Did he think the subject matter was a bit gritty?

“It is always a question of how appropriate is it to a school play like this. You think about Oliver or Grease but we wanted to be a little bit deeper than that.

“People can come and be inspired and challenged in their faith. The girl playing Corrie is taking on a massive job and it is inspiring her. And we want to raise awareness of what Corrie did.

“She was a very powerful woman and inspirational and her faith is a step above what we are used to on a daily basis.”

For more information call Bingley Arts Centre on (01274) 567983.