SEMINAR: Hanoch Levin

October 23rd at The Jewish Theatre

The Jewish Theatre is making a broad commitment to one of the most prominent, most played and most controversial playwright Israel ever had: the peace activist Hanoch Levin (1943-1999). Icon in his country – unknown in Scandinavia. His oeuvre spans prose, poetry, some fifty plays – satirical, comic, tragic, mythological – often in a crossover mix. Hanoch Levin’s work is still performed throughout Israel.

The Jewish Theatre presented a panel discussion offering insight into a range of diverse yet connected aspects of biography and career of Hanoch Levin. Special guests from Israel were invited to share their experience and expertise, often gained through close working and personal relationships with Levin himself.

Participants: Lilian Barreto, Noam Semel, Dror Keren (moderator) and Prof. Nurit Yaari.

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Lilian Barreto is an actress and was married to Hanoch Levin. She is now the Head of the Hanoch Levin Estate. Lilian Barreto has long time been performing at Israel’s most prominent scenes in productions such as Scenes from a Mariage by Bergman, The Child Dreams by Hanoch Levin, Hedda Gabler by Ibsen, Betrayal by Pinter (Habima National Theatre). At the Jerusalem Khan Theatre, Barreto has played important parts in The Seagull by Chekhov, Measure for Measure by Shakespeare, Scenes from an Execution by Barker. Barreto has also played roles for TV and film and has won several awards for best lead and supporting roles.

Noam Semel is General Director of the Cameri Theatre of Tel Aviv since 19 years and Chairman of the Hanoch Levin Institute of Israeli Drama. Noam Semel served in the past as the Haifa Municipal Theatre’s general director. Since 1992, Noam Semel is consultant on cultural affairs for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is a regular lecturer to ambassadors and consuls before they leave on diplomatic missions. Noam Semel is also editor and host of the Israel Broadcasting Authority’s weekly culture and arts television program Theatre Café. Hanoch Levin was resident playwright of the Cameri Theatre, in which most of his plays were staged.

Dror Keren is an actor and has been playing a part in Requiem at the Cameri Theatre since 1999, the very last play Hanoch Levin directed before dying of cancer the same year. At the Cameri Theatre, Dror Keren has also performed in The Producers, Servant of two Masters, and The Good Woman of Saetzuan. For his leading role in Two Into One, Keren won the Best Actor Award in 2002. Dror Keren has also played many parts for TV series and film. His most recent parts for film were in Once I Was and Five Hours From Paris.

Nurit Yaari is Professor of Theatre Studies at the Tel Aviv University in Israel. She has authored books and articles on Hanoch Levin. She is published in many languages and her articles focus on Ancient Greek tragedy and its reception in the theatre of the 20th century, and on different aspects of the Israeli theatre. Prof. Yaari is serving as artistic consultant and Dramaturge for the Khan Theatre of Jerusalem, and as Artistic Director of IsraDrama, an annual event, organized by the Institute of Israeli Drama, to expose the Israeli plays and playwrights to the international theatre community.

The seminar is presented in collaboration with The Hanoch Levin Institue of Israeli Drama.