The Appeal

Orly Noa Rabinyan, born in Israel to Persian parents, is an author and director based in Zurich. She will presentThe Appeal, a performance developed during a residency at neimënster, which highlights the diversity of voices and identities and aims to create a safe space for political discussion. The Appealis inspired by one of the first public performative acts in Israeli cultural history. In 1936, under British mandate, Tel Aviv’s Habima Theatre staged an imaginary literary trial following its decision to presentThe Merchant of Venicein Hebrew for the very first time. Even before opening night, the announcement sparked intense protest. The community, artists, intellectuals, and concerned citizens, gathered to debate the issue directly: should The Merchant of Venice really be performed "here, of all places, now, of all times"? The accused? None other than William Shakespeare, the Habima Theatre, and the director, Professor Leopold Jessner, who had just fled Nazi Berlin in search of asylum.

Lineup:

Text: Orly Noa Rabinyan

Direction: Orly Noa Rabinyan

Cast: Yazan Doubal, Clara Hertz, Rahel Jankowski, Konstantin Rommelfangen, Mö Sbiri

Main organiser(s): neimënster

Free admission

Language: EN

Duration: 60