Owen Arkrow in The White Rose [Marc Brenner]

SET during the Second World War, Brian Belding’s musical is based on the true story of a German resistance group who tried to expose Hitler’s lies. Their courage in the face of tyranny proved both exemplary and deadly.

Sophie Scholl (Collette Guitart) arrives in Munich to join her brother, Hans (Tobias Turley) and study at university.

The siblings join a small group of students, Willi Graf (Owen Arkrow) and Christoph (Danny Whelan) who, calling themselves the White Rose, print and distri­bute leaflets challenging Nazi propaganda. Eventually the group is joined by their professor Kurt Huber (Mark Wilshire). Compli­cating matters is Sophie’s former sweetheart, Frederick (Ollie Wray), now a member of the police.

Belding (book and lyrics) does not shy away from exploring the tensions around those members who initially supported Hitler but changed allegiance, and others who are sympathetic to the resistance but fear the conse­quences if they’re discovered. Some characters would have benefited from more backstory.

Set to Natalie Brice’s soft rock score, White Rose includes solos, duets and ensemble pieces, although the upbeat numbers feel at odds with the sombre story. Directed by Will Nunziata, the cast’s vocals are terrific. Even the understudy, Millie Roberts, impresses as Lila, a young Jewish woman struggling to keep her identity a secret.

One cannot help but register the story’s resonances today and be reminded of similar, ongoing resistance in Iran, Russia and beyond. Affecting and timely.

To April 13
marylebonetheatre.com/