During Purim, truth gets spoken to power, hierarchies inverted and the seeds of possibility are planted. Featuring a satirical rewriting of a brutal biblical story by Rachel Mars and Nick Cassenbaum, and live music from the klezmer band Doikayt.
Doors 7:30pm
Tickets £10-20
We are throwing a Purim Party! But what's the deal with all the onions/ ציבעלע / tsibeles?
From the Yiddish: װאַקסן זאָלסטו װי אַ ציבעלע מיטן קאָפּ אין דר'ערד - ”may you grow like an onion with your head in the ground.” During Purim, truth gets spoken to power, hierarchies inverted and the seeds of possibility are planted.
We’ve invited Rachel Mars & Nick Cassenbaum, the two funniest Jews in London to write and perform a Purimspiel - a brand new, satirical rewriting of the brutal biblical Purim tale. Performed as a live radio play, script in hand, with sound and music by Doikayt and a specially written song by Joseph Finlay; Nick and Rachel will read alongside special guests with secret cameos from some of our favourite outspoken Jews. After that, Doikayt will play a set of klezmer bangers for your aural and bodily pleasure.
Join us for a night of deconstructing narratives, great Klezmer music and delicious triangular shaped food.
Doors: 7.30pm
Purimspiel: 8pm
Doikayt set: 9.15pm
About Doikayt:
From the Yiddish דאָיִקייט meaning 'hereness'. Taking their name from the long history of diasporic Jewish politics and culture: the concept of doikayt states that “wherever we live, that’s our homeland”. Through their music, community and activism, Doikayt stand in solidarity with Collective Liberation and the struggle for peoples everywhere to live in safety and peace.
Anna Lowenstein – fiddle
Daniel Gouly – clarinet
Josh Middleton – accordion
Francesca Ter-Berg – cello
Yusuf Narçin – trombone
Oliver Presman – tuba
Simon Roth – drums
Rachel Mars is a prolific London-based queer Jewish performance maker renowned for her comic theatre blending live art, sharp wit, and bold text-driven action. Her recent works like FORGE, where she rebuilt a replica of the Dachau 'welcome' gate and queer sex archive solo Your Sexts Are Shit walk a fine line of satire and celebration on remembrance culture and female desire. She also reviews gherkins at Picklewatch. Rachel’s shows tour internationally and are renowned for their incisive, laugh-out-loud explorations of trauma and belonging.
Nick Cassenbaum is a London-based theatre-maker, playwright, and performer celebrated for his funny, political and Jewish-themed comedy that builds immersive worlds through storytelling and humour. His hit solo show Bubble Schmeisis explores Jewish identity via sweaty, absurd physical comedy, while REVENGE: After the Levoyah - a Fringe First winner - satirizes antisemitism and Essex Jewish life. Recent pantomimes like Cinderella and the Matzo Ball blend raucous tradition and chutzpah, playing to sold-out crowds.