Gesher theatre reveals new season repertoire

The special Hangar hall of the Gesher Theater in Jaffa is arranged like an exhibition: sets and costumes, props and videos, photographs and texts - these are from the many and varied plays created at Gesher, of which the theater is proud. A cultural historical nostalgia, that excites the media people who were invited to the press conference (January 13) to reveal the intriguing repertoire of the new 2025 season.

Lena Kreindlin - CEO of the Gesher Theater, and Roi Chen - the resident playwright, present the impressive program, in the presence of actors and creators at the theater, who in between give acting and singing excerpts from the plays intended for the new season. The loud applause testified to the enthusiasm of the audience.

Among the new plays that will be staged throughout the year: "Crime and Punishment" based on Dostoevsky, which becomes a colorful and sweeping cabaret performance; "Someone to Run With" based on David Grossman; "Mother Courage and Her Children" by Brecht; "Souls" based on the novel by Roi Chen; "Krum" - a musical adaptation by Avi Benjamin of the play by Hanoch Levin and more/

Lena Kreindlin, CEO of the Gesher Theater: "First and foremost, we never forget the kidnapped women and men. The yellow chairs standing in our hall are a daily reminder to all of us that the kidnapped must be returned home, now. Gesher's audience, which does not give up on culture even in these difficult times, is invited to discover a new and diverse repertoire, which combines Israeli plays with beloved classics in surprising interpretations. A variety of talented female directors will direct at the Gesher Theater this year, and in addition, we have provided a home and support for a large number of new immigrants from the field of theater, who have recently arrived in Israel. Apart from that, it is important for me to emphasize that I see a great importance and mission, especially in these complex days, in the fact that the Gesher Theater proudly represents the State of Israel on the best stages in the world."

The plays that will be staged in the 2025 season:

This month, the play "Crime and Punishment" was staged at the theater, based on Dostoevsky's masterpiece, directed and adapted by Alexander Molochnikov from New York. The director, who fled Russia following the war and became famous for his daring and original plays, brings the audience into a cabaret performance, a vibrant carnival, in which the voices of the familiar heroes receive a modern and surprising tone.

Following the success of "Richard III", Itay Tiran returns to the Gesher Theater to direct "Souls", based on the novel by the resident playwright, Roi Chen, starring Evgenia Dodina, Ariel Bronz, Neta Roth, Gilad Kleter, Ala Dakka and others.

Saphir Heller, an Israeli director who has been working successfully in the best theaters in Germany for many years, is coming to the Gesher Theater to direct "Mother Courage and Her Children" by Bertolt Brecht.

The young director Ido Kolton will direct for the first time in a repertory theater, an adaptation of Grossman's beloved Sapir Prize-winning book, "Someone to Run With", starring Nir Kenan, Miki Leon, Ido Musseri and more.

Alexei Zolotovitsky, a new immigrant who recently arrived in Israel, will direct "Krum", by Hanoch Levin, in a musical adaptation by Avi Benjamin, the resident composer of the Gesher Theater. With the participation of Yuval Yanai, Tali Osadchi, Michal Weinberg, Neta Roth, Uri Yaniv, Nikita Goldman and more.

Neta Spiegelman, who wrote and directed the children's play "How a Giraffe Sleeps", will direct "She Knits, He Unravels" - a play of her own, starring Alon Friedman and Tali Osadchi.

A special project - a collaboration between the Gesher Theater and the Rishon Lezion Symphony Orchestra. Regina Alexandrovsky will direct "Eugene Onegin" - a summit meeting between the play "Eugene Onegin. Footnotes", directed by Elvis Hermanis, one of the most influential theater directors in Europe in the last decade, and Tchaikovsky's opera. The Israeli Rishon Lezion Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Dan Ettinger, will accompany the theater actors and opera singers.

The classic play "The Visit", directed by Roni Brodetsky, will be staged starring Efrat Ben-Zur and Miki Leon.

"To Wake Up", by Dunya Smirnova and Marina Stepanova, will be staged in Russian starring Ksenia Rappoport.

In addition, in the coming season, the Gesher Theater will continue to give expression to the works of new immigrants, with a significant portion of the plays being directed by female and male directors who have only recently immigrated to Israel.

Gesher International:

This year too, the Gesher Theater continues its travels around the world. The year 2025 will begin with a tour of North America, with the play "Don't Look Back", which will be staged in Toronto, Boston, New York, Washington, Miami, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Also, "Richard III" will participate in the Wiener Festwochen festival in Austria.

The play "Cyrano" will go to Budapest and the Baltic countries.

"Anna Karenina" will play in Tbilisi.

The play "Yakish and Popche" will play in China.

In addition, the play "Salome" will be staged later this year in London, in collaboration with the Royal Haymarket Theatre in the West End.

Continuing the long-standing tradition of the Gesher Theater, from June 18 to 28, the Jaffa Fest 2025 International Theater Festival will take place in Jaffa with plays from Poland, Lithuania, Germany, Georgia and more.

For show dates and ticket orders on the website or by phone: 03-5157000

9 Jerusalem Boulevard, Tel Aviv-Jaffa.

(Photo: Shosh Lahav)