A Little Green Leaf -UK Tour 2025

Hello, and thank you so much for your interest in supporting us.

website: alittlegreenleaf

Tumbleweeds Theatre presents A Little Green Leaf by Kimberly Denness-Thomas.

Inspired by the true story of Odette Hallowes, A Little Green Leaf premieres in London at the Collective Acting Studio on August 27, 2025.

With our talented cast and crew, we will then tour schools and venues across England, including the Tangmere Aviation Museum, the East Ham Air Cadets, and the Wellington Arts Centre.

This original one-act play creatively uses shadows, light, and puppetry to tell a story about the resilience of the human spirit, inspired by the extraordinary life of Odette Hallowes — a story I’m truly honoured to tell.

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Who was Odette Hallowes?

Odette was a British Special Operations Executive spy during WWII. Betrayed by a double agent while working for the Resistance, she was captured, tortured, and sentenced to death. On May 5, 1945, after almost two years in solitary confinement awaiting execution, she was awakened by the voice of Fritz Suhren, the commandant of Ravensbrück concentration camp.

“Get up, come with me… NOW!”

Thinking it was the day she would die, she was instead taken for a long drive in his SS-issued convertible to the American front line, where he hoped to use her to negotiate his surrender. Odette was not having any of that. Turning the tables, she took his gun and shouted to the Americans:

“My name is Odette Sansom, Agent S.23 of the British Special Operations Executive – French Division. I have been held prisoner at Ravensbrück. This is Fritz Suhren, the commandant of Ravensbrück concentration camp. Please make him your prisoner.”

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Our play takes place over the course of that night, in that car, where an unexpected friendship is forged between a war-weary Captain Edward Bonner, played by Will Carr, and a resilient and surprisingly hopeful Odette, played by Kathleen O’Reilly.

A Little Green Leaf tells Odette’s story not only as a spy, but as a woman whose choices—guided by humanity and light in the face of her darkest moments—shaped her survival. Odette survived and helped bring the commandant to justice. She is the most highly decorated female spy of WWII and the first woman in the UK to be awarded the George Cross. After the war, she spent the rest of her life honouring the women with whom she served, who did not make it home, never letting their sacrifice be forgotten.

“They are all our mothers and sisters...

My comrades, who did far more and suffered more profoundly than I, are not here to speak. Because of this, I speak for them."

~Odette Hallowes

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Why this project matters

We believe that experiencing living history firsthand is a powerful catalyst for inspiring change. That’s why we offer A Little Green Leaf to schools free of charge—so that every student can engage with Odette’s story and the lessons it holds.

Our ticketed public performances help offset the costs of touring: travel, accommodation, venue fees, and more. While we’ve secured some initial funding, we need your help to bring Odette’s story to life.

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A symbol of hope

When Odette was at her lowest, seriously ill and looking for hope, she found a leaf, at a time when there were no leaves on the trees around her. It was her miracle of hope.

Kathleen O'Reilly as Odette

“Somewhere in the vast spaces of the sky, a wind had risen… and had lifted a leaf and carried it gently down onto the ground of Ravensbrück, to be picked up by hands that had great need of it.”

~ Odette Hallowes

We now need you to help that hope grow.

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Odette’s family

We’re so grateful to have Odette’s granddaughter, Louise Higham, as our associate producer. Along with her cousin Sophie Parker and the entire family, their involvement and heartfelt support in bringing this play to England means so much to us.

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Looking forward

This tour is just the beginning. We hope this production will spark meaningful conversations about fascism, duty, forgiveness, and the true meaning of peace, lessons that feel especially urgent in today’s political climate.

With your support, A Little Green Leaf will give Odette’s powerful voice a new platform, planting seeds of light where hope can grow, and spreading this vital message of resilience and peace around the world.

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With gratitude,

Kimberly Denness-Thomas

and the entire A Little Green Leaf team

website: alittlegreenleaf