YOUNG performers began preparing yesterday for an emotive event planned for the town later this month.

Pupils from Eastbourne School, in Darlington, will host a ceremony at the town's Dolphin Centre on January 27 in recognition of national Holocaust Memorial Day.

The event marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration and death camp. This year's theme is From the Holocaust to Rwanda, Lessons Learned, Lessons Still to Learn.

Eastbourne's head of music, Alec Jackson, said pupils would give readings, as well as performing music and dance.

"We are trying to be a little bit confrontational about the subject and say to people that there really is something they can do to stop this happening again," he said.

"It will be hard-hitting. The pupils doing the readings have found it quite emotional and I have managed to find lots of images from the past 50 years, from places like Rwanda, Croatia and Armenia."

A Darlington Borough Council spokeswoman said: "The event offers local people an opportunity to come together and reflect on the Holocaust."

The Dolphin Centre event starts at 1pm, is free and open to the public. For more information call (01325) 388287.

* Pupils at Hummersknott School and Language College will mark the day with a talk by a Holocaust survivor.

Published: 15/01/2004