Rereading Theater Shoes, with Jean Freedman

About this episode

Jean Freedman discusses Noel Streatfeild’s book Theater Shoes and its context during World War II.

Writer and scholar Jean Freedman joins us to talk about Noel Streatfeild’s 1944 book Theater Shoes (originally published in the UK as Curtain Up), the story of three children who attend a theatrical school. We discuss London during World War II and welcome the (offstage) reappearance of the three sisters in Streatfeild’s beloved Ballet Shoes (1936). Mentioned on this episode: Other books by Jean Freedman: Whistling in the Dark: Memory and Culture in Wartime London and Peggy Seeger: A Life of ...

People in this episode

Hosts: Mary Grace McGeehan, Deborah Kalb

Guest: Jean Freedman

Topics covered

• theater
• children's literature
• World War II
• Noel Streatfeild
• literary analysis

Keywords

• Theater Shoes
• Ballet Shoes
• Noel Streatfeild
• Jean Freedman
• children's theater

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Theater Shoes, Ballet Shoes, Whistling in the Dark: Memory and Culture in Wartime London, Peggy Seeger: A Life of ...

More episodes of Rereading Our Childhood

• Rereading Deenie by Judy Blume, with Alex Poppe · May 21, 2026 · 51 min
• Rereading The Moffats by Eleanor Estes · April 24, 2026 · 36 min
• Rereading From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konisburg · March 19, 2026 · 42 min
• Rereading The Young Unicorns by Madeleine L'Engle · February 19, 2026 · 49 min
• Rereading A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond · January 22, 2026 · 35 min
• Our Favorite Picture Books · December 18, 2025 · 38 min