JEWS. In Their Own Words.
Alex Waldmann, Photograph: Manuel Harlan
“JEWS. In their own words proposes, and reminds those in the audience who knew already, that no one is exempt from falling into the trap of ignorance, prejudice and racism.”
“creating restless, alert, provocative theatre that reflects the world in which we live”
JEWS. In Their Own Words.
By Jonathan Freedland. From an idea by Tracy-Ann Oberman. A theatrical inquiry.
★★★★
WRITTEN BY DR BIRGITTA HUSE, 29.09.2022
In what follows, we are thrown into “a theatrical inquiry” with captivating, varied, informative and thought-inspiring acts around existing ideas and prejudices against Jews. What image appears if we close our eyes and try to imagine “a Jew”? Mostly this image is based on strongly biased and/or imagined accounts about each and every Jew supposedly possessing a lot of money and power within world economics and politics. Another idea presented is the one of Jews abducting Christian children in order to get hold of their blood. The actors provoke historic origins and interpretations of these misbeliefs about Jews and the consequences of these beliefs over the course of many centuries by presenting scenes on stage in a fast-paced manner.
Throughout the play, body movements add to the visualisation of perceived “Jewish behaviour”. Images, music and musicals like “The Fiddler on the Roof” have been and continue to be impactful for our construction of an idea about a certain group of people of a shared identity aspect – it is these rather unconscious and hidden images and their impact on our behaviour that this theatre play seizes and raises awareness of.
The actors use the words of twelve interviewees, six women and six men. Each actor represents the experiences and viewpoints of two different persons. The individuals tell us about memories, lived experiences and what it means for them to be Jewish. The stories which are told in a scenery in which video, photography and print media excerpts are projected onto movable screens provoke critical (self)reflection as well as questions regarding the stark reality of racism in general. Certain “ingredients” of racism are recognisable, ignorance being a crucial one.
Steve Furst, Debbie Chazen, Louisa Clein, Billy Ashcroft, Hemi Yeroham, Rachel-Leah Hosker, Photograph: Manuel Harlan
The raising of much and publicly discussed issues relating to racism in the Labour party tackles the question where racism, practised knowingly or unknowingly, can be found. JEWS. In their own words proposes, and reminds those in the audience who knew already, that no one is exempt from falling into the trap of ignorance, prejudice and racism. Though being a piece which uses the words of twelve Jewish individuals, the play makes a strong case for many other people who struggle or at least deal intensely with their own and other peoples’ perceptions of whom they are because of a certain ethnic and/or cultural background.
The initial question of the very first person on stage at the beginning of the play, “Who am I?”, is not answered in a unidimensional way. The play reveals a whole range of possible answers, answers which are as varied as individuals are different, while an inquiry is raised into their similarities at the same time. Once more, the Royal Court Theatre presents what it describes as its mission – “creating restless, alert, provocative theatre that reflects the world in which we live”.
Hemi Yeroham, Steve Furst, Photograph: Manuel Harlan
Writer Jonathan Freedland
Co-Directors Vicky Featherstone and Audrey Sheffield
From an idea by Tracy-Ann Oberman
Co-created by Vicky Featherstone, Audrey Sheffield and Tracy-Ann Oberman
Designer Georgia de Grey
Lighting Rory Beaton
Sound Ben and Max Ringham
Video design Reuben Cohen
Movement director Adi Gortler
Dramaturg Tommo Fowler
Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Downstairs