Lecture
Professor David Peimer
Saturday 14.03.2026
Professor David Peimer
Darkest Hour: May 1940, Churchill becomes PM, Just in Time
Saturday 14.03.2026
How to watch
This lecture starts on 14 March at 5:00pm (UK).
Summary
May 1940. Chamberlain and Halifax are still trapped in “appeasement thinking,” but Churchill takes power, just in time. Hitler is conquering France and the British establishment wavers between “negotiation” and being mired in internal political intrigue. Join us as we explore this superb Academy Award film (with Gary Oldman as Churchill) that captures the ten days in May when the future of the free world hung in the balance. (We will also look at the film: Munich - Edge of War.)
Professor David Peimer
David Peimer is a Professor of Literature, Film and Theatre in the UK. He has worked for the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, New York University (Global Division) and was a Fulbright Scholar at Columbia University. Born in South Africa, David has won numerous awards for playwriting and directing. He has most recently directed Dame Janet Suzman in his own play, Joanna’s Story, at London Jewish Book Week. He has published numerous books, including Armed Response: Plays from South Africa and the digital book Theatre in the Camps. He is on the board of the Pinter Centre (London), and has been involved with the Mandela Foundation, Vaclav Havel Foundation and directed a range of plays at Mr Havel’s Prague theatre.