LONDON
ART
Ben Uri
From There to Here: Britain’s Gain
First and second generation refugee and immigrant artists from Austria, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia, India, Pakistan, Turkey, Iran, South Africa, Canada and the USA are grouped together in this exhibition. All were born ‘there’ and ‘here’ and made a significant contribution to British visual culture since 1900.
Until 14 June
Cosmopolis: Refugee Art Dealers in Twentieth Century London
Following the rise of Nazism and chaos of global warfare in the 1930s and 1940s, many Jewish art dealers were driven out of Continental Europe by Nazi rule to seek refuge in Britain. Their lives, careers and works will be spotlighted in this exhibition.
26 June – 6 September
NW8 0RH. 020 7604 3991. www.benuri.org.uk
Burgh House
About Women: Photographs by Dorothy Bohm
The intimate, candid photography of Dorothy Bohm recorded the changing lives of women across the globe for over seven decades. Through her images, focus on Bohm’s warm, wry and powerful depictions of womanhood.
Until 15 December
Marie-Louise von Motesiczky: (in)Visible Women
Marie-Louise von Motesiczky’s vibrant expressionist paintings gave meaning to the everyday lives of women, depicting them as friends, lovers and carers both in the workplace and at leisure. Take a deeper look at her poignant, witty and at times unsettling works.
Until 15 December
NW3 1LT. 020 7431 0144. www.burghhouse.org.uk
GAZELLI ART HOUSE
Harold Cohen: Refactoring (1966-74)
To coincide with a major exhibition of Harold Cohen’s work at the Whitney, New York, the Gazelli presents a solo exhibit of the British artist’s work. Cohen was best known for creating AARON, a computer programme designed to make paintings and drawings autonomously. This show, however, looks at the artist’s paintings in the years preceding this, from 1966 to 1974.
Until 11 May
W1S 4NN. 020 7491 8816. www.gazelliarthouse.com
Museum of London
Fashion City
It’s the swinging 60s and the East End’s bustling tailors and Carnaby Street’s glitzy boutiques are set to make London the fashion capital of the world. The first of its kind, this exhibition uncovers the major contributions of Jewish designers who helped give London its chic reputation. Hear from celebrity stylists, industry leaders and the founders of retail chains that are still on the high street today. Amidst stunning exhibits of clothing, hats and shoes, you’ll learn about figures such as renowned wedding dress designer Netty Spiegel; master milliner Otto Lucas; inventor of the kipper tie, Michael ‘Mr Fish’ Fish – the epitome of British flamboyance – and living legend David Sassoon, who was a prolific designer for the Royal Family. Read more about Fashion City in the Autumn 2023 issue of JR.
Until 7 July
E14 4AL. 020 7001 9844. www.museumoflondon.org.uk
National Portrait Gallery
Portraits to Dream In
Two of the most influential women in photography history, Francesca Woodman and Julia Margaret Cameron, lived a century apart, but both explored portraiture beyond its ability to record appearance. Their creativity and imagination suggested notions of beauty, symbolism, transformation and storytelling, and this exhibition spans the career of both artists while suggesting new perspectives on their work, and the way photographic portraiture was created in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Until 16 June
WC2H 0HE. 020 7306 0055. www.npg.org.uk
Serpentine
Judy Chicago: Revelations
Don't miss the first ever London retrospective on Judy Chicago. The seminal American Jewish artist, writer and educator is known for her feminist outpourings, exploring the role of women in her work. Revelations contains never-before-seen artworks, studies, notebooks and sketchbooks, plus the manuscript of the title. Chicago wrote it in the 1970s when creating her huge installation The Dinner Party, which comprises 39 places at a triangular table, set for notable female figures throughout myth and history, such as the Hindu goddess Kali, author Virginia Woolf and African-American abolitionist and activist Sojourner Truth.
22 May – 1 September
W2 3XA. 020 7402 6075. www.serpentinegalleries.org
Tate Britain
Sargent and Fashion
The unique work of John Singer Sargent is dissected under a new light, exploring how he worked like a stylist to craft the image of the sitters he painted, using fashion as a powerful tool to express identity and personality. Sargent had a tendency to manipulate the clothing of his collaborators to express his vision as an artist, and this showcase of almost 60 of his paintings will examine how the painter used fashion to create portraits of the time, which still captivate today.
Until 7 July
SW1P 4RG. 020 7887 8888. www.tate.org.uk
Tate St Ives
Artist Rooms: Sol LeWitt
Influential in establishing the notion of ‘conceptual art’ in the 1960s, Jewish American artist Solomon ‘Sol’ LeWitt produced highly colourful, sprawling wall pieces. For example, Wall Drawing #1136 (2004) weaves together seven vibrant colours to create an enveloping chromatic environment.
No end date specified
TR26 1TG. www.tate.org.uk
Wiener Holocaust Library
Genocidal Captivity: Retelling the Stories of Armenian and Yezidi Women
Discover the stories of thousands of women captured and enslaved during the Armenian and Yezidi genocides of 1915 and 2014, respectively. Many were forced to relinquish their religion to become Muslim wives, daughters, servants and sexual slaves. Those who escaped or were rescued by aid organisations tell their stories here through survivor testimony made either in the 1920s or more recently. Not suitable for under-14s.
Until 31 May
Crisis of Britishness? Immigration, Race and Nation in Modern Britain
Throughout history, politicians have repeatedly encouraged the notion that British identity and culture is under threat by non-white migration. The British Nationality Act of 1948 automatically gave British citizenship to those from colonies within The Empire. But the so-called ‘crisis of Britishness’ surrounding immigration and national identity continues today. This exhibition highlights far-right nationalist rhetoric and the anti-fascist and anti-racist responses that followed, using items from the museum’s archive to spotlight the struggle over immigration, race and the notion of nation in Britain from the 1970s to 1990s.
Until 1 July
The Library of Lost Books
This is the first exhibition of its kind in the UK telling the story of the Hochschule, a unique library which was looted by the Nazis in the Holocaust; it’s books scattered across the globe, branded as enemy studies. Understand the complicated journeys the books took after the Holocaust and learn about the Nazi’s assault on scholars, students and faculty at the Higher Institute for Jewish Studies, Berlin (1872-1942), which was dedicated to the study of Jewish history and culture as well as rabbinical studies in Liberal Judaism.
6 June - 10 July
WC1B 5DP. 020 7636 7247. www.wienerlibrary.co.uk
Wednesday 8 May; Wednesday 12 June
The Kent House Series
A monthly literary series running from January to June that gives audiences the chance to rub shoulders with leading writers and public figures in stunning, 18th-century surrounds. Guests feature former prime minister Theresa May (10 Apr) discussing her memoir, The Abuse of Power; London comedian David Baddiel (8 May) on his latest polemic The God Desire; and Emma Manners, the Duchess of Rutland, talking about her autobiography, The Accidental Duchess. Each event will be followed by a Q&A session and book signing.
7.30pm. £25. Kent House Knightsbridge, SW7 1BX. www.kenthouseseries.org
Thursday 18 April
The Jewish Revolt
Rachel Auerbach ran a soup kitchen in the Warsaw Ghetto, and while there she was involved in the creation of Emanuel Ringelblum’s underground archive Oyneg Shabes (The Joy of Sabbath). She witnessed the 1943 uprising and managed to escape and survive in hiding, inspiring her book: Der Yidisher Oyfshtand: Varshe 1943 (The Jewish Revolt: Warsaw 1943), which has now been translated and published in English for the first time. Her book aimed to commemorate the Jewish fighters who took part in the first major act of resistance to the Nazis and describes the course of their revolt. Professor Antony Polonsky of Brandeis University and the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Warsaw, discusses Auerbach’s work in this talk.
6.30pm. FREE. Wiener Holocaust Library, WC1B 5DP. www.wienerholocaustlibrary.org
Sunday 5 May
Getting Better
Author Michael Rosen shares his experiences and lessons learned after losing a child, living with a debilitating chronic illness and facing death when seriously unwell in hospital in his new book, Getting Better. He sits down with Francine Wolfisz discussing how he survived these traumas and how has since found joy in the aftermath of the tragedies. He will also answer audience questions and sign copies of the book.
11am. £3.50. Finchley Church End Library, N3 2LN. www.barnet-libraries.played.co
Thursday 9 May
Alexander Baron’s War Trilogy
Author Alexander Baron will be joined by curators, authors and his son, Nick, to discuss his life and work, particularly his wartime trilogy: From the City, From the Plough; There’s No Home and The Human Kind, which all draw heavily on his own wartime experiences. Tickets include after-hours access to the Imperial War Museum’s World War II galleries, providing even more historical context of Baron’s novels.
6.30pm. £20. Imperial War Museum London, SE1 6HZ. www.iwm.org.uk
Wednesday 15 May
Nobody Lives Here
Dutch Holocaust survivor Lex Lesgever, who died in 2019 aged 90, wrote of his war-torn youth in his memoir, Nobody Lives Here: A Jewish Childhood in the Occupied Netherlands. He was barely 11 when the Germans invaded his homeland in 1940. By 1945, approximately 107,000 of the country’s 140,500-strong Jewish population were wiped out;chaim amongst them were Lesgever’s parents, two older brothers and 38 other close relatives. He survived by sleeping rough, hiding in abandoned buildings and stealing food. Babette Lichtenstein, one of the translators of the memoir, discusses the late author’s life, as well as life for Jews generally in post-war Amsterdam. Read our review of Nobody Lives Here on the JR blog
7.30pm. £12.50. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Thursday 21 May
Lewis Bush: Depravity’s Rainbow
The contradictory history of space exploration is examined through the controversial life of Wernher von Braun, a German American rocket scientist who was instrumental in putting men on the moon, but was also a former member of the Nazi party who developed the V-2 Rocket, which was responsible for thousands of civilian deaths. Bush will discuss his new project and book, Depravity’s Rainbow, which focuses on the grey morality of rocket-science and space exploration.
6.30pm. £20. Imperial War Museum London, SE1 6HZ. www.iwm.org.uk
BOOKS AND POETRY
Wednesday 19 June
Ashley Blaker: Normal Schmormal
Ashley Blaker faces endless meetings, countless therapists, public humiliations, failed playdates, surreal monologues and occasional violence as the father of children with special needs, but he wouldn’t want it any other way. His new stand-up show, following his BBC Radio 4 hit comedy, 6.5 Children, sheds a comical light on his unique parenting experience. Read our review of Normal Schmormal on the JR blog.
7.30pm. £17. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
COMEDY
until Sunday 21 April
Season of Streisand
Barbra Streisand is one of the most iconic figures in film, television, music and theatre, and her 60-year career is paved with countless awards and trailblazing firsts. With Yentl, for instance, Streisand was the first woman to write, produce, direct and star in a major movie production, and subsequently she became the first woman to win Best Director at the Golden Globes. JW3 presents a season dedicated to the legend, screening some of her most iconic films, including Yentl (14-18 April), Funny Girl (2-4 April) and A Star is Born (14-17 April).
Times vary. From £5. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Tuesday 7 May
L’Chaim!
After a restless, hippy-like youth, travelling throughout Germany, London and Paris, Chaim Lubelski makes his millions in New York and then goes to St Tropez to play pro chess. That is, until his 95-year-old mother Holocaust survivor Nechama, requires help. L’Chaim, directed by Lubelski’s cousin Elkan Spiller, follows the dutiful son, now aged 63, as he moves into Nechama’s care home in Antwerp. It is a story full of singing, laughter and love, but also inherent sadness and the search for identity. Spiller explores the ways that the trauma of war is passed down through the generations and continues to affect daily life. The screening is followed by a Q&A session.
7.30pm. £12. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Thursday 16 May
PSALMS
This musical journey depicts what unites us in an increasingly disjointed world, using Psalms and Ecclesiastes to explore the ancient biblical themes that resonate with modern-day life. Performed by Mosaic Voices, the country’s leading Jewish vocal ensemble, the film presents fascinating aspects of British-Jewish life in unexpected locations across the UK. Following the screening, filmmaker Benjamin Till and many of the key performers will attend a Q&A.
8pm. £15. Phoenix Cinema, N2 9PJ. www.ukjewishfilm.org
FILM AND TV
MUSIC
Sunday 12 May
Kindertransport Commemorative Concert
To mark the 85th anniversary of the Kindertransport, the Association of Jewish Refugees presents an afternoon with the Leonore Piano Trio. The chamber ensemble will perform a programme reflecting the music, culture and heritage of the German, Austrian and Czech children rescued from Nazi-controlled territory during World War II.
3pm. £20. Wigmore Hall, W1U 2BP. www.ajr.org.uk
Tuesday 14 May
Home Recital
This concert features Odinn Baldvinsson on flute and Mayumi Lida on the keys.
3pm. £15. Location provided on booking. www.bbrabin.co.uk
Sunday 26 May
Zemel Choir: Interfaith Festival
The London-based Jewish choir directed by Benjamin Wolf presents a series of interfaith events. People of all denominations and none are invited to sing with the choir, whose repertoire ranges from old favourites to music from contemporary composers.
2.30pm. £10. Belsize Square Synagogue, NW3 4HX. www.zemelchoir.org
Sunday 2 June
Zemel Choir: INTERFAITH FESTIVAL
See above for info.
7.30pm. £15. West London Synagogue, W1H 5AU. www.zemelchoir.org
Wednesday 5 June
Zemel Choir: INTERFAITH FESTIVAL
See above for info.
7.30pm. £15. St Jude’s Church, NW11 7AH. www.zemelchoir.org
Thursday 20 June
Musical Soiree
Enjoy a dinner complimented by Hannah Lewis on cello and Neil Crossland on piano.
7pm. £30. Location provided upon booking. www.bbrabin.co.uk
Monday 24 June
Wihan Quartet
The Wihan Quartet of Prague has represented an authentic voice in its interpretations of Czech music since 1985. This performance, in honour of the late Pamela Majaro MBE, the driving force behind the intercollegiate chamber music competitions, features: Bedřich Smetana’s String Quartet No. 2 in D minor; Antonín Dvořák’s String Quartet in F Op. 96, American and Leoš Janáček’s String Quartet No.2, Intimate Letters.
7.30pm. From £18. Wigmore Hall, W1U 2BP. www.wigmore-hall.org.uk
Thursday 27 June
The Big Mix
This intercultural evening, presented by the Jewish Music Institute, brings together griot traditions of West Africa and the heritage of Ashkenzi music. Featuring Kadialy Kouyate, Senegalese master of the kora (lute-like instrument), Brit klezmer accordionist Josh Middleton and Israeli singer-songwriter Noga Ritter.c
7pm. £17.50. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jmi.org.uk
Sunday 7 July
Celebrating Lionel Bart
Take a trip down memory lane for a magical, nostalgic evening celebrating the music of Jewish songwriter Lionel Bart. The evening will feature a West End cast including Olivier Award winner Liza Sadovy (Cabaret) and will include songs like Living Doll, A Handful of Songs and hits from Oliver! and Bitz.
8pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Monday 19 – Friday 23 August
Klezfest
Delve into the wonderful world of klezmer with an incredible team of teachers at the helm, to inspire you to explore the celebratory, soulful and melodic music from 19th century Jewish Eastern Europe to take the theme of ensembles and orchestras to a whole new level. Go at your own pace to learn great tunes and gain knowledge of the modes, ornamentation, rhythms, and accompaniment that give klezmer its unique flavour. There will also be a faculty concert and plenty of opportunity for jamming in the evenings.
10am–5pm. £160-£250. SOAS University of London, WC1H 0XG. www.jmi.org.uk
Thursday 5 September – Wednesday 12 March
The Classical Music Series
The inaugural sell-out classical music season returns for a second time, showcasing international artists over six concerts. Opening with multi award-winning pianist Steven Osborne OBE with 20 short pieces by Robert Schumann and Claude Debussy (5 Sep), the monthly concerts feature: international tenor Ian Bostridge and Mishka Rushdie Momen (10 Oct) performing songs by Franz Schubert which were written at the end of his life; Anthony Marwood (violin), Garfield Jackson (viola), David Waterman (cello) and Mishka Rushdie Momen (piano) (5 Nov) covering Antonin Dvořák’s work; the Doric String Quartet (23 Jan), who are currently recording a project celebrating Ludwig van Beethoven to be released on the 200th anniversary of his death) as well as Joseph Haydn’s String Quartet and Benjamin Britten’s Three Divertimenti; Sini Simonen, violinist of the Castalian Quartet, Alasdair Beatson, pianist of the Nash Ensemble and Garfield Jackson and David Waterman on viola and cello, respectively (2 Feb) playing Franz Schubert’s early work; and concludes with a gathering of international solo instrumentalists playing Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s E minor for piano and violin, Gabriel Fauré’s piano quartet and some of Joannes Brahm’s works (12 Mar).
7.30pm. £30. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
TALKS
Thursday 18 April
Philippe Sands: Warm Genocide and Other Crimes
Justice, international law, human rights and conflict resolution in a year when tensions are flaring up around the world will be analysed by renowned human rights lawyer and UCL Law Professor Philippe Sands.
7pm. £15. Imperial War Museum London, SE1 6HZ. www.iwm.org.uk
Wednesday 8 May
Israel and the Ghosts Of 1974
How did the ramifications of the Yom Kippur War affect Israel as we know it today and can they help to explain what is happening in the country currently? Award-winning academic, consultant and commentator Hagai Segal leads the discussion.
7.30pm. £15. ONLINE & JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 19 May
What’s Next for Jewish Theatre?
UK Jewish Theatre is full of talented individuals and companies but there is still so much ambition yet to be fulfilled, which along with the complexities of creating Jewish work has been intensified since the start of the current conflict. Shoresh Charitable Trust, who support Jewish activities in the UK and in Israel hold this immersive talk looking at how we can work together to harness the ideas, talent and possibility to bring a greater variety of Jewish stories and discourse into UK culture. The conversation will have no advanced agenda and will be entirely audience-lead with the potential for new connections and relationships, as well as transformative ideas.
10.30am. FREE. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Monday 20 May
Who Put Abraham into the Abraham Accords and Why?
The political motivations for Arab states to normalise relations with Israel are well known, but what about the religious-cultural language around the Abraham Accords? Dr Toby Greene of the London School of Economics illuminates the background to the language used by the Accords and asks whether it was just about branding or if it was a real attempt to rewrite the script of Arab-Jewish relations. He also explores the future of the Accords in light of the current Israel-Hamas war.
7pm. £15. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Tuesday 4 June
Women of D-Day
Acclaimed historian, writer and broadcaster discusses the courage of the women who undertook pivotal roles in the D-Day landings during World War II. Explore the personal stories of women working in intelligence, nursing, the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) and across the allied forces.
6.15pm. £20. Imperial War Museum London, SE1 6HZ. www.iwm.org.uk
Wednesday 5 June
A Pandora’s Box: Songs and Memory in Final Account – Third Reich Testimonies
British filmmaker Luke Holland interviewed hundreds of Germans and Austrians about their memories of, and involvement in, Hitler’s regime, resulting in a collection of oral histories told from the side of the perpetrators. Most of the interviewees, all non-Jews, were born in the 1920s and grew up in the Nazi era. Cultural historian Zoltán Kékesi presents Holland’s work, with a particular focus on how vividly the subjects could recall memories so late in their life when related to songs, and the range of emotional responses they exhibited when asked about them.
6.30pm. FREE. The Wiener Holocaust Library, WC1B 5DP. www.wienerholocaustlibrary.org
Monday 17 June
What Does the Rise of Populism Mean for Jews?
The possible re-election of Donald Trump is the most potent symbol of the rise of populist leaders who claim to speak for the people against unrepresentative elites. Dr Toby Green of the London School of Economics and Bar Ilan University discusses the definition of populism, how it combines with the radical right and radical left-wing politics, and what significance populist challenges to liberal democracy poses for Jews in Israel and around the world.
7.30pm £15. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Monday 1 July
Surviving Complicity
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the mass deportations of Hungarian Jews and the Roma community, JW3 is joined by Generation 2 Generation to discuss the history of Hungary under Nazi rule. The Holocaust charity raises awareness of family Holocaust stories through survivor testimony and the views of younger generations. This event delves into the complexities of historical interpretation and resilience during challenging times.
7.30pm. £15. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Tuesday 2 July
Student Harmony in Israel
University professor Mona Khoury talks to environmental barrister Sarah Sackman about creating diverse and inclusive campuses. Khoury aims to increase the accessibility of groups currently underrepresented in Israeli academia, including ultra-Orthodox Jews, Arabs, Jews of Ethiopian decent, first generation to higher education and people with disabilities. nac
7pm. £15. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Monday 8 July
Jews Talk Cricket
Daniel Lightman, Kings Counsel at Serle Court Chambers joins friends including comedian and lifelong cricket obsessive Andy Saltzman and TV and radio presenter Giles Coren to entertain with their stories about the Jewish contribution to cricket.
7.30pm. £15. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
THEATRE
UNTIL Saturday 20 April
Nachtland
Nicola and Philipp are clearing out their late father’s house when they come across an old painting stashed in the attic – a painting that changes everything. The image is a quaint street scene from 1920s Vienna - the work of a failed artist who abandoned his original line of work for Nazism. Nicola wants to sell it, Philipp wants to keep it and Philipp’s wife Judith wants to burn it. Tony Award-winner Patrick Marber directs Marius von Mayenburg’s grim satire about marriage, legacy, the rise of the new far-right and the terrible impulses we keep buried deep. Read our review of Nachtland on the JR blog.
7.30pm (Mon-Sat), 2.30pm (Wed & Sat only). From £12. Young Vic Theatre, SE1 8LZ. www.youngvic.org
until Saturday 27 April
Pickle
Pickle returns following it’s sold out 2023 run. A darkly comic one-woman show about a north Londoner named Ari (Deli Segal), who’s stuck between worlds. She’s still living at home, where she’s surrounded by overbearing parents, tradition and expectations, while her day-to-day life is a nine-to-five, pubs and, er, foreskins. Written by Segal and produced by Tanya Truman, Pickle explores the tensions of being a Jewish and secular woman in the UK today. Read our review of Pickle on the JR blog.
7pm, 3pm (Sat only). From £13. Soho Theatre, W1D 3NE. www.sohotheatre.com
uNTIL saturday 15 june
Operation Mincemeat
Following five sold-out runs, Operation Mincemeat transfers to the West End’s Fortune Theatre. Set in 1943, the fast-paced show tells the hilarious and incredible true story about a twisted secret mission that helped Britain win World War II, thanks to a well-dressed corpse and a briefcase full of forged documents. Read more about Operation Mincemeat in the Winter 2022 issue of JR.
7.30pm (Mon-Wed), 8pm (Thu-Sat), 3pm (Tue & Sat only). £39.50-£79.50. Fortune Theatre, WC2B 5HH. www.operationmincemeat.com
Thursday 18 April
Scene Unseen
This hour-long cabaret from Jessica Walker and Joseph Atkins tells a story about identity, sexuality and what makes us who we are. Scene Unseen was born out of the fractured relationship Walker shares with her birth father, the lyricist Pete Brown, who is best known for his session writing with psych-rock supergroup Cream. As her journey unfurls, Walker discovers an extraordinary secret at the heart of her Jewish ancestry, as well as a family she never knew.
8pm. £15. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Thursday 9 May – Saturday 15 June
A Song of Songs
Stuck in a loveless marriage, Tirzah discovers she has a secret admirer and enters into a mysterious and fervent love affair, taking her on a soul-searching journey of personal empowerment and love-induced madness. A cast of 12 performers and musicians is led by Israeli actor, writer and composer Ofra Daniel, fusing Middle Eastern harmonics, European flamenco and klezmer with dazzling choreography. Read our interview with Ofra Daniel in the Spring issue of JR.
7.30pm (Mon-Sat), 3pm (Thu & Sat only). From £22.50. Park Theatre, N4 3JP. www.parktheatre.co.uk
Tuesday 11 June – Saturday 6 July
Kafka
Franz Kafka was and still is the presiding genius of experimental storytelling in the Western world, even 100 years after his untimely death, aged 40. Award-winning writer and performer Jack Klaff has created this acclaimed solo show about Kafka’s life and work, featuring an array of Kafka’s friends, as well as characters from his imagination, drawing on his works, including Metamorphosis, The Trial and Amerika, plus his letters, diaries and notes. Read our piece on Kafka in the Spring 2024 issue of JR.
7.30pm, 3pm (Sat & Sun only). £20 (£18 concs). Finborough Theatre, SW10 9ED. www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk
Friday 21 June – Saturday 27 July
Visit from an Unknown Woman
In 1934 Vienna, Stefan is enjoying the life of a successful author. He has money, fame and all the finest things in life. Nothing could burst his bubble. Except the rise of the Nazi Party and the sudden appearance of a mysterious woman. This run will be the English language premiere of playwright Christopher Hampton’s adaptation of the Stefan Zweig short story. Read our interview with Hampton in the Spring 2024 issue of JR.
7.30pm, 2.30pm (Thu & Sat only). £25-£55, concs from £25, £10 students/under-30s. Hampstead Theatre, NW3 3EU. www.hampsteadtheatre.com
Friday 6 September – Thursday 10 October
Cable Street
It’s October 1936 and Sammy, Mairead and Ron are carving out their futures on London’s Cable Street. However, their plans are disrupted by the activities of Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists, and its march through the East End on 4 October. Thousands of Jewish and Irish local residents, trade unionists and activists from the Labour and Communist parties unite to block their passage. This retelling of the historic event is given a contemporary, musical twist. Read more about Cable Street in the Winter 2024 issue of JR.
7.45pm, 2.30pm (Thu & Sun only). From £25. Southward Playhouse Elephant, SE11 4RX. www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
Sunday 21 April
Pre-Pesach Foraging
From wild salads and soups to herbal teas and pickles, learn how to identify various common edible wild plants including maror (bitter herbs) for the Seder plate. Connect with nature on this foraging walk guided by London National Park City Ranger Michael Green.
11am. £14. Hampstead Heath meeting point provided upon booking. www.jvs.org.uk
Sunday 9, Tuesday 11 & Sunday 16 June
Nature Meets History
Designed as a garden cemetery in 1873, Willesden Jewish Cemetery offers a unique blend of heritage and nature. Discover the captivating fusion of historic legacy and flourishing nature and see the grounds as not only a resting place for the departed, but as a haven for nature and wildlife.
12.30pm. £8. Willesden Jewish Cemetery, NW10 2JE. www.willesdenjewishcemetery.org.uk
WALKS
WORKSHOPS
Monday 13 May – Monday 15 July
Ruth: From Maobite to Messiah
Ruth the Moabite (an ethnic group that was hostile to the ancient Israelites) married an Israelite man in biblical times, and became the great-grandmother of the Messiah, so what does this story tell us about the morals of the Jewish people’s ancestors? How did it change the way we understand Judaism? Angela Gluck – teacher, trainer and school and local authority consultant explores The Book of Ruth and Shavuot and looks at themes such as identity politics and cultural boundaries, women as initiators and the delights of gleaning.
10.30am. £144. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Monday 13 May – Monday 8 July
Current Affairs with Paula Kitching
Historian and writer Paula Kitching tackles new subjects every week, generated by participants and the issues of the day.
2pm. £128, £20 per session. ONLINE & JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 18 – Friday 23 August
Golden Peacock: Sing Yiddish
Yiddish singer, teacher and artistic director of Golden Peacock Shura Lipovsky and esteemed colleague Rachel Weston lead this course designed for singers who wish to deepen their knowledge of the genre. In the mornings participants will focus on music theory, range, roots and traditions, kicked off with a communal dancing session with both Klezfest and Golden Peacock students together, while in the afternoons you’ll study further repertoire, attend masterclasses and join a Yiddish choir. This is one of the only opportunities in the UK to immerse yourself in the world of Yiddish song with like-minded people of all ages and backgrounds. Hosted by the Jewish Music Institute.
10am-6pm. £165-£225. SOAS University of London, WC1H 0XG. www.jmi.org.uk
Sunday 18 – Friday 23 August
Ot Azoy! Learn Yiddish
The Jewish Music Institute presents full immersion classes in Yiddish language, song and culture for people of all ages, levels and backgrounds. International Yiddish expert Dr Khayele Beer leads the course, while head of faculty Shura Lipovsky leads a daily session in learning Yiddish through song.
11am-6pm (Sun), 9.30am-7pm (Mon-Wed), 9.30am-9pm (Thu), 9.30am-5pm (Fri). £165-£250. SOAS University of London, WC1H 0XG. www.jmi.org.uk