Israeli actor, writer and director Ofra Daniel brings her daring, passionate musical play based on a Biblical poem to London for its European premiere

A Song of Songs is a vivid reimagining for the stage of one of the most beautifully poetic episodes in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), the similarly named Song of Songs. Often attributed to King Solomon (and also known as the Song of Solomon) here, unusually for Biblical texts, the voice we hear is not only female, but full of sexual longing and imagery.

The scenario sees a woman's sensibilities and longing at the heart of the story. Young Tirzah is married off by her father to a much older man, a wealthy widower with two young sons, who has made his money as a fishmonger. Despite declaring, "I want to be good, but good is not free" and her pleas for a child of her own, she does her best to be a dutiful wife and stepmother. That is, until a mysterious, ardent love letter is thrust through her door, to which she responds with passionate intensity.

Switching from tortured to serene to ecstatic, Israeli actor, writer and director Ofra Daniel’s body becomes almost wizened in front of our eyes, before she straightens and morphs into a young woman. She dances urgently in response to the words of her lover, first while voicing the love poems in the letter and then from a flowery platform. We the audience can see Joaquin Pedro Valdes’ sexy lover character, though Tirzah herself seems to be conjuring him in her wildly vivid imagination.

Around Daniel's electric central performance, the cast makes stunning stage pictures, dissolving one to another, thanks to Billy Mitchell’s swirling choreography, wonderfully enhanced by Marina Paz’s flowing costumes and intricate, asymmetric, multi-level set.

Four versatile players (Laurel Dougall, Shira Kravitz, Rebecca Giacopazzi and Ashleigh Schuman) are the Women of Jerusalem and then Yaffo (amongst other roles). At times they look to Tirzah as their leader, at others they are mocking and indignant as her frenzy becomes wilder and more inappropriate, and she sheds garments as she lets down her long, dark hair.

The onstage musicians led by Thomas F Arnold on keys, make a vibrant and thrilling band with Daniel Gouly (clarinet), Amy Morwenna Price (klezmer violin), Ramon Ruiz (lead flamenco guitar), Ashley Blasse (upright bass) and Antonio Romero (percussion), with Matthew Woodyatt playing accordion as well as multiple roles – the narrator, as well as Tirzah’s husband and father.

Woodyatt’s is a tall and imposing figure, his voice authoritative as narrator and his presence compelling, almost sinister. The score, a collaboration between Daniel and co-composer Lior Ben-Hur with Ali Paris and Yuval Ron, is one of the jewels of the production, always beautiful and hauntingly evocative of Arabic and Spanish music.

At times it all seems almost too in-your-face, too outlandish. Tirzah, almost daring to echo The Almighty, declares at one point ‘I am who I am'. But this must be as Daniel intends – the audience representing the shocked inhabitants of Jerusalem and Yaffo, not ready for such searingly honest behaviour.

By Judi Herman

A Song of Songs runs until Saturday 15 June. 7.30pm (Mon-Sat), 3pm (Thu & Sat only). From £22.50. Park Theatre, N4 3JP. parktheatre.co.uk

Read our interview with Ofra Daniel in the Spring 2024 issue of JR.