The celebratory premiere will take place on March 14 at the Khan Theater in Jerusalem. In the role of Rabbi Israel HaBaal Shem Tov – the actor Maurice Cohen and in the role of Adele – Yael Schreiber. The deep structure of the work expresses the desire for devotion, spirituality and self-redemption, and the inner struggles that a person goes through on his way there. Through the extraordinary story of Adel and her father, the tension between community and tradition and a new, personal and closer spiritual expression between the individual and the God who is outside the walls of the synagogue, in the mental and physical realms of the forest, imagination and hallucination, is revealed.
The presence of “Adel” as a woman who has a strong influence and presence in the life of her father, the Hasidic thinker, sheds new light on the place of women in the traditional Jewish space. The role of “Adele” is played by Yael Schreiber and the role of “Israel” is played by the actor Maurice Cohen, who played many roles in Israel, on television, in movies and on the theater stage.
Maurice Cohen in the role of Baal Shem Tov in the play Adele (photo: Raphael Levy)
The work was directed by Nathanala Tirosh, the artistic director of the Theotron ensemble. Nathanala Tirosh graduated from the acting studio of Nissan Nativ and the directing course at the Kibbutzim seminar, winner of the outstanding actress award at the 2006 Acre festival, the Lottery scholarship for the development of plays for the play “Somaria”, the 2019 Uri Orbach Minister of Education Award for Jewish Culture.
The Theotron is a creative laboratory that was established with the aim of creating a refreshing and topical Jerusalem theater that draws inspiration from the connection between the Jewish spiritual world and the theatrical medium. In the laboratory, which was established following the vision of the late Rabbi Menachem Froman, a group of ten creators, secular and religious, work, who see Jerusalem as their natural place of activity and this due to the city’s unique ability to bring together extremes – new and old, material and spirit, answer and question.
The group is artistically managed by Nathanala Tirosh, a graduate of Nissan Netiv’s studio in Jerusalem, and is accompanied by Rabbi Yossi Froman, who leads study sessions and prayer groups. The group’s previous works for adults were performed on various stages throughout the country: “The Book of Adam” (directed by Nathanala Tirosh and Shemat Hazan), “Tomorrow We Will Die” (directed by Keren Hovav), “Hail God” (written and directed by Yonatan Blumenfeld), “Waiting for the Birds” ( Written by Yehoshua Sobol, directed by Yael Nivron).
The play Adel at the Khan Theater. (Photo: Rafael Levy)
Adapted by: Nathanala Tirosh and Nadav Sadaka Directed by: Nathanala Tirosh Dramaturgy: Shlomit Cohen Skelley | Decor and costumes: Adiel Ariel Video: Yara Niral and Amri Shavit Music: Dolev Salomon Traffic: Yelena Abramowitz Lighting: Shay Skiva Participants: Morris Cohen, Yael Schreiber, Nofer Levinger, Shir Shanar, Ilan Hazan, Gadi Weisbert | Management of the show: Tagel Tzuria. to purchase tickets