LONDON
ART
Austrian Cultural Forum
Painting Sculpture: Sophie Barber & Franz West
Sophie Barber created a series of smalls-scale works referencing the name and art of Austrian Jewish sculptor Franz West, inspire by his pink outdoor sculptures shown at the 2019 Tate Modern retrospective. West, one of Austria’s most celebrated artists, was known for his unique aesthetic portraying both high and low reference points and privileged social interactions.
No end date specified
SW7 1PQ. 020 7225 7300. https://acflondon.org
Ben Uri
Franciszka Themerson: Stories from the Life
See the variety of techniques used by Polish Jewish artist Franciszka Themerson, who studied at at Warsaw’s School of Fine Art in the 1920s before coming to London. Her earlier works, predominantly of interiors and the activities taking place within them like dancing and eating offer rich, vibrant colour; are a stark contrast to her later pieces, which are monochromatic drawings of landscapes. Two never-before-exhibited oil paintings are shown alongside examples of Themerson’s pre- and post-war pieces.
Until 23 May
Paula Rego
One of the most significant figurative artists of her generation, Portuguese creative Paula Rego used her provocative works to draw on childhood memories, feminist themes and political events reflecting her Portuguese roots and the broader human condition. This exhibition offers a tribute to her legacy and cements her status as a modern master.
11 June – 24 October
NW8 0RH. 020 7604 3991. www.benuri.org.uk
Brooke Walder Gallery
Lilian Holt Retrospective
Jewish painter Lilian Holt made significant contributions to 20th-century British art though her portraiture and landscape works. She married David Bomberg, who was part of the Anglo-Jewish creative group the Whitechapel Boys. Her relationship with him deeply influenced her work both before and after his death.
Until 26 April
SW1Y 6DB. 07770 477 661. www.brookewalder.com
Freud Museum
Women & Freud: Patients, Pioneers, Artists
This is the first exhibition to celebrate the women who shaped the life of Sigmund Freud, inventor of psychoanalysis, as well as the artists he inspired. Taking place in the home where Freud spent the last year of his life, see previously unseen fabric works from Paula Rego’s studio along with other art, books, letters, diaries, photographs, sketchbooks and manuscripts. His home, where his daughter, pioneering child psychoanalyst Anna Freud also examined patients, will display his legacy.
Until 5 May
NW3 5SX. www.freud.org.uk
Isokon Gallery
Through a Bauhaus Lens: Edith Tudor-Hart and Isokon
See recently uncovered prints that document the historic construction and opening of Belsize Park’s Isokon Flats, Britain's first reinforced concrete residency. The images were taken by Viennese Bauhaus-trained photographer Edith Tudor-Hart, who moonlighted as a Soviet spy during her time in the UK. It’s thought that she operated as part of the Cambridge Five, as when the group was exposed, she destroyed much of her work. A cache of her negatives from the 1930s has been discovered in Salzburg, however, including the these Isokon photographs.
Until 26 October 2025
NW3 2XD. www.isokongallery.co.uk
JW3
Pitch Up: The Cockney Yiddish Podcast
The Jewish Museum London may have closed its physical doors, but the organisation has been hosting a series of pop-up stalls. This ‘Pitch Up’ at JW3 provides further insight into each episode of The Cockney Yiddish Podcast, a seven-part series by Nadia Valman and Vivi Lachs. See objects and images connected to themes on the podcast, including language, theatre, humour and politics. If you haven’t already heard it, stream the series at cockneyyiddish.org.
Until 11 July
NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Museum of the Home
Rooms Through Time: Real Rooms
Museum of the Home, east London’s ode to how humans have lived throughout the centuries, has renovated its long-running exhibit with seven new additions that reflect the multicultural melting pot of London’s residents. Among them, is the Delinsky family home – a 1913 tenement room portraying Shabbat dinner, with simmering lokshen soup on the stove and an oil painting on the wall. The painting was based on a well-worn photo that the donor’s great-grandmother used to carry with her, commissioned by her husband. He was an art dealer, who filled their home with portraits. The pair met in the UK after the great-grandmother fled antisemitic violence in Eastern Europe.
From 17 July
E2 8EA. 020 7739 9893. www.museumofthehome.org.uk
Park Lane
Visitor V
British Jewish artist David Breuer-Weil’s new installation, featuring two resin-bronze feet sticking upwards out of the ground, explores the theme of ‘outsiders’. Located opposite the Dorchester Hotel on Park Lane, Visitor V represents a person ‘crash-landed’, having arrived from a distant land with another culture. This follows his 2023 sculpture SISTER, in tribute to his sibling, as well as being a sister piece to the artist’s similar pieces in Jerusalem. Read more about SISTER on the JR blog.
Until December
W1K 1QA. www.davidbreuerweil.com
Royal Academy of Art
Kiefer / Van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh had an enduring influence on painter and sculptor Anselm Kiefer, whose work often addresses post-war Germany’s reckoning with the Holocaust. See works by both artists side by side and examine traces of van Gogh’s technique in Kiefer’s pieces, which draw on history, mythology, literature, philosophy and science.
28 June-26 October
W1J 0BD. www.royalacademy.org.uk
Tate Modern
Solid Light
Anthony McCall’s immersive works bring its audience’s movements and interactions to life using beams of light that are projected through a thin mist. The result is new shapes and mesmerising perspectives. McCall has redefined the possibilities of sculpture with his groundbreaking work over the years, much of which is presented in this exhibition.
Until 27 April
SE1 9TG. www.tate.org.uk
Tate St Ives
Artist Rooms: Sol LeWitt
Influential in establishing the notion of ‘conceptual art’ in the 1960s, Jewish American artist Solomon ‘Sol’ LeWitt produced highly colourful, sprawling wall pieces. For example, Wall Drawing #1136 (2004) weaves together seven vibrant colours to create an enveloping chromatic environment.
No end date specified
TR26 1TG. www.tate.org.uk
West London Synagogue
Contemporary Judaism
See items representing all of the different sectors of the Jewish community as a whole, curated by Collecting Inclusive Stories, a project that aims to spread awareness and understanding of diversity within the religion.
Until 6 May
Wiener Holocaust Library
The Blumenfeld Family: An International Tracing Service Case Study
Examine the background of the Blumenfeld family, the owners of one of the most famous German Jewish travelling circuses of the 20th century. The circus was kept alive through the generations since first touring in 1811. Only one member of the family is known to have survived past 1951 – Jeanette – and this exhibition is the result of her great-granddaughter’s enquiry into the International Tracing Service in 2023, which conducts research for those looking into the fates of their loved ones following the Holocaust.
Until 1 June
Traces of Belsen
After liberation in 1945, Bergen-Belsen concentration camp was left as little more than a mass grave. The Nazis destroyed all of its records and the British Army was forced to burn down barracks to eradicate disease. What remains today stands as a memorial site and museum, but certain materials were recovered in archaeological digs and from descendants of survivors. This exhibition, which marks 80 years since the end of World War II, uses photographs and documents to explore the history and post-war life of the site.
Until 10 July
WC1B 5DP. 020 7636 7247. www.wienerlibrary.co.uk
Tuesday 25 March
Call Me Lola
Loli Kantor’s new book uses her photography to reflect on her family experience of history, memory and loss. Call Me Lola, which looks into Kantor’s father’s life journeying across Europe and Israel, also follows her desperation to connect with the mother she never knew. She and her daughter Danna Heller, who curated and contributed to the book, discuss preserving their family legacy and the emotional scars of grief.
7pm. £15. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Wednesday 23 April
The Jewish Revolt: A Warsaw Ghetto Exhibition
A talk to mark the recent translation into English of The Jewish Revolt: A Warsaw Ghetto Exhibition. Originally written in Yiddish by Israeli Holocaust survivor Rachel Auerbach, the book documents the harrowing events of Pesach, 1943, in Warsaw. Auerbach (born Rokhl Auerbakh) details the Nazis’ attempts at a final assault, capturing both the despair and defiance of the Jewish people through photographs and essays. TV personality Rachel Riley, who is a staunch campaigner aginst antisemitism and wrote the foreword to the book, will also speak at the event.
6.15pm. £17.50. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Wednesday 23 April
The Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz
Author Anne Sebba untangles the complex story of the women’s orchestra of Auschwitz in her upcoming book. She discusses how and why the group was formed, tells stories of its members and looks at the moral quandaries of music’s role in a death camp. Sebba is joined by Lord Daniel Finkelstein, political columnist and former adviser to Prime Minister John Major. Read our interview with Anne Sebba in the Winter 2025 issue of JR.
6.30pm. FREE. Wiener Holocaust Library, WC1B 5DP. www.wienerholocaustlibrary.org
Wednesday 30 April
Melanie Phillips
Following 7 October, the Western world has been divided in its support between civilisation and barbarism. In her new book, The Builder’s Stone: How Jews and Christians Built the West – and Why Only They Can Save It, journalist Melanie Phillips argues that while Israel will survive the current war, the fate of the West hangs in the balance unless it reaffirms its Jewish roots.
7pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Wednesday 14 May
Jewish Men and the Holocaust
Dr Florian Zabransky’s new book highlights the male experience through World War II. Jewish Men and the Holocaust is an in-depth analysis of how they made sense of their trauma, focusing on life in ghettos, concentration camps, resistance groups and displaced persons camps.
6.30pm. FREE. Wiener Holocaust Library, WC1B 5DP. www.wienerholocaustlibrary.org
Monday 19 May
Vanishing Vienna
Frances Tanzer discusses her newest book, which touches on Vienna’s reliance on antisemitism and philosemitism (the positive attitude or interest in the Jewish people) and the discourse between the two in the aftermath of the Holocaust. Vanishing Vienna shows especially how philosemitism, although problematic, defined the city in an era of post-war reconstruction.
6.30pm. FREE. ONLINE & Wiener Holocaust Library, WC1B 5DP. www.wienerholocaustlibrary.org
Thursday 22 May
Abraham: The First Jew
Anthony Julius’s new book shines a light on one of the foundational Jewish figures. Abraham: The First Jew touches on the Akedah (The Binding) – the biblical story of God commanding Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac in order to receive a miracle – and the unresolvable, overwhelming crisis this provoked. Julius discusses his work with Rabbi Michael Pollak (Yad Vashem UK), exploring the underlying struggles of scepticism, faith, autonomy and dependence hidden within the early days of Judaism.
7pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Tuesday 10 June
Home, Migration and Food!
Iraqi artist Linda Dangoor launches her second cookbook. From the Tigris to the Thames features personal memoir entries and recipes, reflecting on the idea of home and belonging. The session includes an interview, Q&A, book signing and tasters.
7.30pm. £20. ONLINE & JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Wednesday 11 June
Jewish Odesa
Dr Marina Sapritsky-Nahum talks about her latest book, which focuses on the complex history of Jewish communities in Odesa. She explores how Jews have shown resilience and compliance amidst conflict, adapting to a rapidly changing world despite being deeply rooted in the cosmopolitan heritage of their city. Read more about Jewish Odesa in the Spring 2025 issue of JR.
7pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
BOOKS & POETRY
until Thursday 27 March
JW3 Comedy Club
Sit back and relax as Jewish and Jew-ish comedians take to the stage with their side-splitting jokes, improvisation and stand-up performances. The monthly comedy club kicks off with Rachel Creeger, up-and-comer Levy Lupu, Davina Bentley and multi award-winning comedian and filmmaker Joe Bor.
7.30pm. £17. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
until Saturday 29 March
Ivor Dembina: Millwall Jew
At the age of 71, Jewish comedian Ivor Dembina decided to go against the grain and support his nearest football club, Millwall, as opposed to the team typically favoured by Jews, Tottenham Hotspur. He explains as much in this show, which is a passionate rant about football, family and faith. The stalwart London comic has a reputation for rubbing audience members up the wrong way, using humour to tackle controversial takes on religion, and Millwall Jew is no different. Prepare to be offended.
5.30pm (Sat only). £8.50. Camden Comedy Club, NW1 0LU. www.camdencomedyclub.com
Monday 28 April
Sarah Silverman: Postmortem
Emmy Award-winning comic Sarah Silverman returns to the UK for the first time in 12 years with Postmortem. The show is based on her TV special Someone You Love, which was nominated for a Grammy, Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award, delves into the comedian’s complex yet humorous feelings around life, loss and death.
7pm. £53.45-£97.75. The London Palladium, W1F 7TF. www.myticket.co.uk
Wednesday 25 June
JW3 Comedy Club
Sit back and relax as Jewish (and Jew-ish) comedians take to the stage with jokes, improvisation and stand-up performances.
7.30pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
COMEDY
Saturday 12 April
Lel Hasseder: Pesach Seder
Celebrate the first night of Pesach with a community Seder night.
Time and price TBC. Richmond Jewish Community Hub, TW9 1AP. www.rjch.org.uk
Saturday 12 April
First Night Community Seder
Hear the story of the exodus from Egypt, drink four cups of wine, eat matzah and enjoy the Pesach service at Kent House.
6pm. £60 (adult), from £20 per child. Westminster Synagogue, SW7 1BX. www.westminstersynagogue.org
Sunday 27 April
Yom HaShoah: Zikaron BaSalon
Yom HaShoah honours the memory of the 6 million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. David Wirth, the son of Eva and Istvan, both of whom were survivors, shares his parents’ experience of death marches and various concentration camps. Yellow candles will be given to all attendees, inviting everyone to light one in memory of those who were lost. Hosted with Zikaron BaSalon, an organisation dedicated to creating a more intimate, meaningful and accessible way to keep the legacy of the atrocities alive.
7.30pm. Free (donations welcome). Richmond Jewish Community Hub, TW9 1AP. www.rjch.org.uk
Sunday 4 May
Yom Ha’atzmaut
Celebrate Israel’s Independence Day in the shuk (market), with refreshment stalls, arts, crafts and much more.
Time and price TBC. Richmond Jewish Community Hub, TW9 1AP. www.rjch.org.uk
Sunday 1 June
Erev Shavuot
Bring in Shavuot, the celebration of the harvest and giving of the Torah, with a service, dinner and studying into the night (tikkun leil). Featuring keynote speaker Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, Bishop of London.
6.30pm. Price TBC. Westminster Synagogue, SW7 1BX. www.westminstersynagogue.org
family
Until Saturday 29 March
Chantal Akerman: Adventures in Perception
During her career spanning almost 50 years, Chantal Akerman directed more than 40 films. The daughter of Holocaust survivors, she was born in Brussels in 1950 and is regarded today as one of her generation’s most important and influential cinematic directors. Her revolutionary and experimental approach to filmmaking will be shown in this two-month retrospective at the BFI Southbank. See fiction features, documentaries, shorts and archive interviews, as well as 2K restorations.
Times and prices vary. BFI Southbank, SE1 8XT. www.bfi.org.uk
Sunday 16 March
Passenger
The Polish classic Passenger, directed by Andrzej Munk in 1963, reunites Liza, a former guard at Auschwitz, and Marta, one of her prisoners, on a cruise ship. After misleading her husband on her relationship with the woman, Liza begins to have brutal flashbacks of her cruelty, reinforcing Marta’s growing courage. Munk tragically died in a car crash before completing the film, which was pieced together by his colleagues, who were convinced his work was a masterpiece.
2pm. £11 (£9 concs). Ciné Lumière, SW7 2DW. www.kinoteka.org.uk
Sunday 30 March
The Last Stage
Shot in Auschwitz-Birkenau just two years after liberation, The Last Stage spotlights the female prisoners who occupied the camp. Wanda Jakubowska’s 1947 Polish film documents the horrors that took place there, while also showing how internationalism and solidarity fought against fascism. The film celebrates women’s courage and is a stark reminder of Jakubowska’s political beliefs.
1pm. £14 (£12 concs). Phoenix Cinema, N2 9PJ. www.kinoteka.org.uk
FILM AND TV
MUSIC
Until Wednesday 12 March
The Classical Music Series
After a sell-out debut last year, The Classical Music Series returns for a second season showcasing some of the best artists from around the world. Highlights include pianist Mishka Rushdie Momen, who’ll be joined by string trio Anthony Marwood, Garfield Jackson and David Waterman to perform Dvořák (5 Nov); the Doric String Quartet performing Beethoven’s Op 132 (23 Jan); and soloists Irene Duval, Asbjørn Nørgaard, David Waterman and Connie Shih presenting Mozart, Fauré and Brahms (12 Mar).
7.30pm. £30. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 23 March
LIOR
Australian artist LIOR plays his only European date in an intimate concert at JW3. He uses his acoustic guitar to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his platinum first album, Autumn Flow, and to present his newest work The Blue Parade. Last year, the musician collaborated with Hollywood composer Harry Gregson-Williams to co-write and perform the soundtrack for Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II.
8pm. £25. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Tuesday 25 March
1945: A Kind of Haunting
The Britten Sinfonia, conducted by Jonathan Berman and featuring baritone James Newby, spotlight three works from past and present to mark 80 years since the end of World War II. From 1938, there's Bohuslav Martinů’s Double Concerto for Two String Orchestras, Piano, and Timpani, which reflects the life of the Czech composer and the political climate in Europe at the time; plus Metamorphosen (1944-45) by German composer Richard Strauss, which evokes the way that World War II transformed humanity. The audience will also get to hear the world premiere of Michael Zev Gordon's A Kind of Haunting, about intergenerational trauma, inspired by the British composer's grandfather, who was murdered in a forest in Poland during the Holocaust. Read more about A Kind of Haunting in the Winter 2025 issue of JR.
7.30pm. £15-£35. Milton Court Concert Hall, Barbican, EC2Y 9BH. www.barbican.org.uk
Thursday 3 April
Sabra Swing
Explore the world of Jews in Jazz with an evening of music by Sabra Swing. Featuring music by Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Carole King and many more, the five-strong ensemble look at the influence Jewish musicians had on the soundtrack of the silver screen.
7.30pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 6 April
Hallelujah
Alyth Choral Society, the only Jewish UK choir specialising in secular and Hebrew bible music, presents psalms of praise and contemplation. Their concert, conducted by Alison Smart Fisher features Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms with compositions from Rossi, Beach and Dawes.
7.30pm. £15. St Mary-at-Finchley, N3 1TL. www.alythchoralsociety.wordpress.com
Thursday 29 May
Oi Va Voi
British klezmer stalwarts Oi Va Voi celebrate their new album, The Waters Edge, with a European tour. Their extensive setlist of both old and new material is packed with sounds, melodies and stories rooted in Jewish and European musical tradition.
7.30pm. From £22. Bush Hall, W12 7LJ. www.bushhallmusic.co.uk
Sunday 25 May
JMI Youth Big Band
Original compositions from the JMI Youth Big Band, a group of young musicians aged 11-19, who infuse Jewish music into jazz and other contemporary sounds. Led by composer and musician Sam Eastmond.
12.30pm. £12, £8 concs. Jamboree Kings Cross, WC1X 9HH. www.jmi.org.uk
Thursday 12 June
The Piano Player of Budapest
Jewish Pianist Stephen de Bastion spent his youth in Hungary in the 1930s, living a life of fame, romance and music, before his world collapsed during the Holocaust. Using his original piano, which has been in the family for over a century, his granddaughter Roxanne exposes the unimaginable horror Stephen endured through forced labour camps. She draws on her grandfather’s recordings, unpublished memoirs, letters and documents and uses music to revive her family’s history.
7pm. £15. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 29 June
Celebrating Anthony Newley
West End actors take to the JW3 stage to celebrate the life and works of Jewish musician Anthony Newley, who was responsible for a slew of hits including ‘Goldfinger’ and the score for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
7.30pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
TALKS
Wednesday 26 March
Global Trends 2045
Jonathan Paris (Middle East analyst) discusses what he thinks global politics will look like in 2045 in relation to Israel’s role in both the region and the wider world.
2pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Thursday 3 April
Churchill and Stalin: An Unlikely Alliance
In the face of Hitler’s rampant Nazism, an unlikely alliance formed by William Churchill and Joseph Stalin. Communicator William Tyler MBE discusses the link between the Liberal Democrat to the Communist.
2pm. £20. ONLINE & JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 6 April
Hallelujah
Alyth Choral Society, the only Jewish UK choir specialising in secular and Hebrew bible music, presents psalms of praise and contemplation. Their concert, conducted by Alison Smart Fisher, features Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms and Julian Dawes Psalm 140.
7.30pm. £15. St Mary-at-Finchley, N3 1TL. www.alythchoralsociety.wordpress.com
Wednesday 30 April
Challenges Facing Israel in the Middle East
Middle East analyst Jonathan Paris explores Israel’s current challenges, including its political situation, Iran and the nuclear bomb, and the likelihood of normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
2pm. £20. ONLINE & JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 4 May
A Four Sites Saga: A Brief History of JFS
Founded in 1732, Jewish Free School was once one of the most renowned Jewish schools in the world. Former deputy headteacher David Harris presents an illustrated talk following JFS’s journey to its state-of-the-art site in Kenton via the East End and Camden Town. Refreshments provided, and audience members are welcome to explore the cemetery afterwards.
11am. £5. Willesden Jewish Cemetery, NW10 2JE. www.willesdenjewishcemetery.org.uk
Wednesday 7 May
The State of Israel at 77 in a Transformed Middle East
Amidst the longest war in its history, the State of Israel will soon be celebrating 77 years of independence. Writer and lecturer Paul Gross deciphers the many different lenses through which Israel is viewed: the uncertain future of its democracy; the extraordinary levels of civil and patriotic solidarity in the face of the current conflict; and its military achievements, which have radically transformed the Middle East.
7.30pm. £20. ONLINE & JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Tuesday 20 May
Children in the Aftermath of 7 October
Following 7 October, tens of thousands of children were left traumatised. Professor Asher Ben-Arieh (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) discusses how both the Hebrew University and the Haruv Institute – global leaders in child welfare research and training – have collaborated with the government and the IDF to build a rehabilitation framework for children returning from captivity and those coping with other traumas.
7pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Wednesday 28 May
I Hope Soon to Get into a Hospital
In 1930s Britain, when the threat of war became imminent, there was a growing crisis in the recruitment and retention of female nurses. To assist with this, the government offered Jewish refugees from Nazism the chance to train as a nurse as a form of escape. Dr Jane Brooks (University of Manchester) maps the ups and downs that many young women faced in their training and discusses their ongoing bravery and determination in carving out a new career for themselves.
6.30pm. FREE. ONLINE & Wiener Holocaust Library, WC1B 5DP. www.wienerholocaustlibrary.org
Thursday 5 June
Willy Meisl: King of Sports Journalists
Austrian Jewish sports writer Willy Meisl revolutionised his field of journalism during the Weimar Republic, critiquing whilst taking professionalism, tactics and sporting history into account. His focus shifted upon the rise of the Nazis, when he was forced into exile and started to write about radical ideology and the terror behind their reign. Authors Darren O’Bryne and Christopher Young discuss Meisl’s career with fellow writer and commentator David Bolchover.
7pm. £15. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
THEATRE
until Saturday 15 March
The Passenger
German author Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz penned his critically acclaimed novel The Passenger in the wake of Kristallnacht, but it didn’t become a best-seller until it was rediscovered by his niece some 70 years later. Playwright Nadya Menuhin now brings his story to the stage, following protagonist Otto Silbermann, who lost everything during the infamous Night of Broken Glass, as he’s forced to flee his homeland and adapt to a new world order.
7.30pm, 3pm (Sat & Sun only). £18-£25. Finborough Theatre, SW10 9ED. www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk
Until Saturday 12 April
Farewell Mister Haffmann
Playwright Jean-Philippe Daguerre sets the scene in Paris, 1942, where we meet Jewish jewellery shop owner Joseph Haffmann. Desperate to escape the Nazis, he turns to his trusted employee Pierre, who offers to hide him on two conditions: Pierre is given ownership of the shop and Haffmann becomes intimately involved with Pierre’s wife. Fraught with the pressures of marital strains and absurd demands, will Haffmann be able to comply in order to survive? Find out in the London premiere of one of France’s longest-running, multi-award-winning plays.
7.30pm (Mon-Sat), 3pm (Thu & Sat only). From £35.50. Park Theatre, N4 3JP. www.parktheatre.co.uk
Until Sunday 13 April
White Rose: The Musical
Inspired by a true story, a small group of university students in Munich secretly meet to write, print and distribute leaflets exposing Hitler’s lies and Nazi deception. This is the UK premiere of White Rose: The Musical, following it’s US premiere last year.
Times vary. £27.25-£82.25. Marylebone Theatre, NW1 6XT. www.marylebonetheatre.com
Until Sunday 28 September
Oliver!
Following its huge success at Chichester Festival Theatre last year, Lionel Bart’s musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novel returns. The orphaned Oliver Twist finds himself in London’s dark underworld with Fagin and his team of pickpockets, led by the Artful Dodger. With a score of well-known songs, including ‘Oom Pah Pah’ and ‘As Long as He Needs Me’, follow Oliver as he looks for happiness in Dickens’ story of the boy who asked for more.
7pm (Mon & Tues only), 7.30pm (Wed-Sat), 2.30pm (Wed & Sat only). From £65. Gielgud Theatre, W1D 6AR. www.oliverthemusical.com
Wednesday 19 March
RISE
Set in Eastern Europe at the height of the Holocaust, this modern rock musical follows a group of female Jewish resistance fighters waging an uprising against the Nazis. RISE is a story of courage, loyalty, sacrifice and love, and will be followed by a discussion with writer and composer Joshua Daniel Hershfield.
7.30pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Tuesday 8 – Saturday 12 April
The Merchant of Venice 1936
After selling out the Royal Shakespeare and Criterion Theatres, this groundbreaking production of the Shakespeare classic returns. Tracy Ann-Oberman stars as Shylock, reimagined as a widowed single mother in London’s East End in the 1930s. She runs a small business from her cramped terrace house in Cable Street, desperately slaving to provide a prosperous future for her daughter Jessica, while also combatting the violent rise in antisemitism. Read our review of The Merchant of Venice 1936 on the JR blog and read our interview with Tracy-Ann Oberman in the Winter 2023 issue of JR.
7.30pm (Tue-Sat), 2.30pm (Wed, Thu & Sat only). From £15. Richmond Theatre, TW9 1QJ. www.merchantofvenice1936.co.uk
Saturday 26 April – Saturday 2 August
Giant
After a sold-out run at the Royal Court Theatre, Mark Rosenblatt’s debut play Giant transfers to the West End. It’s the summer of 1983 and renowned children’s author Roald Dahl is set to release his latest book, The Witches. If only the public outrage over his recent antisemitic comments would disappear. Should he make a public apology or risk his name and reputation? An unexpectedly explosive confrontation at his family home may just force him to choose. Based on real-life events, Giant deals with the problematic issues of fame and rhetoric with dark humour. Starring Golden Globe-winner John Lithgow and Olivier Award-winner Elliot Levey. Directed by Nicholas Hytner. Read more about Giant in the Summer 2024 issue of JR.
7.30pm (Mon-Sat), 2.30pm (Wed & Sat only). Prices TBC. Harold Pinter Theatre, SW1Y 4DN. www.haroldpintertheatre.co.uk
Wednesday 30 April - Saturday 31 May
Faygele
Ari Freed’s life is turned upside down when his father brands him a ‘faygele’ (derogatory Yiddish term for someone who is gay) at his bar mitzvah. Already in a state of delicate mental health, Freed battles between his faith and identity, love and duty, and past and future, as he navigates the complexities of his teens and the relationships that shape him.
7.30pm (Mon-Sat), 2.30pm (Thu & Sat only). £22.25-£77.25. Marylebone Theatre, NW1 6XT. www.marylebonetheatre.com
Thursday 15 May
The Knitting Pilgrim
Three huge, tied tapestries line the stage of Kirk Dunn’s multidisciplinary one-man show, in which he explores the three Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. A keen knitter, Dunn uses his 15-year artistic and spiritual journey with the hobby to look at what unites and splits the religions, throwing in some personal anecdotes along the way.
7.30pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Saturday 24 May – Saturday 19 July
Fiddler on the Roof
Following its sold-out run at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in the summer, Jordan Fein’s production of Fiddler on the Roof hits the Barbican stage. Travel back to the small village of Anatevka and watch as Jewish milkman Tevye navigates life with his wife Golde and five daughters. With each daughter rebelling against his strong Jewish beliefs, can Tevye embrace the unfamiliar in a changing world or will he stick to his roots? Featuring classics such as ‘If I Were A Rich Man’, ‘Matchmaker’ and ‘Sunrise, Sunset’.
7.30pm (Mon-Sat), 2.30pm (Tue, Thu & Sat only). From £25. The Barbican Centre, EC2Y 8DS. www.barbican.org.uk
Sunday 15 June
Ms MaNDy's Adventures in Wonderland
AI, animation and technology controlled by eye movements are intertwined to present visual artist Sarah Ezekiel’s drag extravaganza. Accompanied by music from Alex Herd, the show portrays the minds of both creatives, who both have MND (motor neurone disease), and the magical, imaginative world in which they live.
7.30pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
until Sunday 13 April
Willesden Jewish Cemetery: Gentle Walks
Hear stories about some of the remarkable people buried at Willesden Jewish Cemetery on this gentle, flat walk. Start by sitting to watch a short video before seeing Commonwealth War Graves and rose gardens. Hear about musicians, retail visionaries and scientists who changed the world, as well as a chief rabbi who fought against the white slave trade. Hot drinks are available at the end of the walk.
11am. £10, £8 concs. Willesden Jewish Cemetery, NW10 2JE. www.willesdenjewishcemetery.org.uk
Sunday 30 March
London’s Jewish History Over the Centuries
Discover the story of London’s Jews dating back to medieval times on this walking tour across the city. From those brought to England by William the Conqueror to refugees during World War II and present-day immigration, delve into centuries of the capital’s Jewish history.
2pm. £20. Starting point provided upon booking. www.jw3.org.uk
Wednesday 7 May
A History of Jewish Hampstead
The leafy streets of Hampstead hold a variety 20th-century Jewish connections. Blue Badge guide Rachel Kolsky leads this gentle stroll through the London suburb, focusing on the German and Austrian emigres of the 1930s, the founding of Belsize Square Synagogue, the Primrose Club for post-war child survivors and much more.
11am. £20. Starting point provided upon booking. www.jw3.org.uk
Thursday 8 May
Artists and their World
See the burial sites of Jewish creatives who managed to make their mark on the art world in the 1900s in this guided walk. As well as the grave of Mark Gertler, remembered for The Merry-Go-Round and Pre-Raphaelite Simeon Solomon, noted for his depictions of Jewish life, major collectors and dealers were laid to rest in the cemetery.
11am. £10, £8 concs. Willesden Jewish Cemetery, NW10 2JE. www.willesdenjewishcemetery.org.uk
Sunday 18 May & Sunday 20 July
Spitalfields: The Historic Jewish East End of London
Venture through the capital’s East End, past Bevis Marks – the UK’s oldest functioning synagogue – to the buzzing Spitalfields Market. Marc Gardiner guides participants through historic streets, including Brick Lane, where Yiddish was once the common language, and to corners of the city that boast Jewish history dating back 1,000 years.
3pm. £20. Starting point provided upon booking. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 1 June
Culinary Connections
From Sir Joseph Lyons, founder of the revolutionary Lyons tea shops, to Jack Cohen, whose Tesco legacy lives on, discover the burial sites of many influential foodies buried at Willesden Jewish Cemetery.
11am. £10, £8 concs. Willesden Jewish Cemetery, NW10 2JE. www.willesdenjewishcemetery.org.uk
Sunday 8 June
Sport at Willesden
Explore the history of those who made a difference to the world of football, horse racing, boxing and more, all of whom are laid to rest at Willesden Jewish Cemetery.
11am. £10, £8 concs. Willesden Jewish Cemetery, NW10 2JE. www.willesdenjewishcemetery.org.uk
Thursday 19 June
Royal Connections
Follow in the footsteps of British monarchs on this Westminster walk. Blue Badge guide Rachel Kolsky tells of the many and varied connections that the Jewish community has had with Britain’s royal family.
11am. £20. Starting point provided upon booking. www.jw3.org.uk
WALKS
WORKSHOPS
until Tuesday 18 March
Hebrew Calligraphy
Develop your skills in Hebrew calligraphy, artwork and colour with expert Vetta Alexis. Work towards creating beautiful, illuminated Hebrew letters, words, quotations and more with ink, painting and gold leaf.
11am. £162, £20 per session. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
until Tuesday 25 March
Will Any Jews of the 20th Century Survive into Jewish History?
Look at well-known Jewish personalities of the last century with educational consultant, magistrate and presenter Clive Lawton OBE. This five-week workshop examines if any of these near-contemporaries will remain known in the generations to come.
11am. £90, £20 per session. ONLINE & JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
until Monday 31 March
A Family Affair? The Story of Jewish-Christian Relations
In this educational series, author Angela Gluck addresses the evolving relationship between Judaism and Christianity. She uses historical case studies to explore how two faiths, which were once significantly divided, have fostered mutual appreciation.
10.30am. £176. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
until Monday 31 March
Middle East 1936-46
Join historian Paula Kitching to discover how the Middle East developed between 1936 and 1946 and learn about the rise of Arab nationalism and territorial divisions.
11am. £198, £20 per session. ONLINE & JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
until Thursday 31 July
Hebrew Language for Beginners
Whether you have Jewish heritage or simply a love for languages, discover the magic of the Hebrew dialect in this course designed specifically for beginners.
8pm. £35 per session. 15 Kidderpore Avenue, NW3 7SJ. www.spiroark.org
Saturday 15 March
The End of the War in Europe
In this full-day masterclass, learn how World War II ended in Europe and what happened in the aftermath. From the challenges of Allied soldiers to survivors of the Nazi persecution and the leaders who shaped the post-war period, see how people coped with and understood the world-changing events.
10am. £78. Imperial War Museum London, SE1 6HZ. www.iwm.org.uk
Friday 18 April
Klezmer Playday
Musician Ilana Cravitz presents a klezmer workshop alongside instrumentalist John Macnaughton. Players of all ages and instruments (of at least a grade four or equivalent) welcome.
11.15am. £30, £15 concs. Jamboree Kings Cross, WC1X 9HH. www.ilanacravitz.com
Monday 21 April
Klezmer Youth Playday
Young musicians aged 8-18 are introduced to Eastern European Jewish folk music in this afternoon workshop. Led by Ilana Cravitz, founder of the National Youth Klezmer Orkester, and musician John Macnaughton, players will be taught tunes and accompaniments, working together on arrangements and discussing performance skills.
2pm. £25, £15 concs. Jamboree Kings Cross, WC1X 9HH. www.ilanacravitz.com
Tuesday 6 May – Tuesday 22 July
Hebrew Calligraphy
Develop your skills in Hebrew calligraphy, artwork and colour with expert Vetta Alexis. Work towards creating beautiful, illuminated Hebrew letters, words, quotations and more with ink, painting and gold leaf in these weekly sessions.
Time TBC. £162. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Monday 12 May – Monday 14 July
Love Love Love
Angela Gluck debunks various theories that Jews are emotionally lacking and ruled by the law of religion. This weekly workshop explores the depth of feeling within Judaism, which is based on a love of your neighbours, strangers and Hashem (God).
10.30am. £144, £18 per session. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Tuesday 13 May
Death Café
People from all faiths are invited to discuss life and death. Whether it’s exploring how to start a conversation with family, sharing ideas about the afterlife or feelings around bereavement, these sessions are light-hearted and non-judgemental.
2pm. FREE. Willesden Jewish Cemetery, NW10 2JE. www.willesdenjewishcemetery.org.uk
Monday 9 – Monday 23 June
Fringes
Explore symbolism, clothing and identity with teachers and rabbis in weekly sessions of cross-denomination learning.
6.30pm. Price TBC. Westminster Synagogue, SW7 1BX. www.westminstersynagogue.org
Sunday 18 – Friday 23 August
Golden Peacock: Sing Yiddish
Shura Lipovsky – Yiddish singer, teacher and artistic director of Golden Peacock leads this course for singers wishing to deepen their knowledge of Yiddish music. Participants will focus on music theory, range, roots and. There will also be a communal dancing session with both Klezfest and Golden Peacock students. This is one of the only opportunities in the UK to immerse yourself in the world of Yiddish song with like-minded people from different backgrounds. Hosted by the Jewish Music Institute.
10am-6pm. £165-£260. SOAS University of London, WC1H 0XG. www.jmi.org.uk
Sunday 17 – Friday 22 August
Ot Azoy! Learn Yiddish
The Jewish Music Institute presents fully immersive classes in Yiddish language, song and culture for all levels and backgrounds. International Yiddish expert Dr Khayele Beer leads the course, while head of faculty Shura Lipovsky leads daily sessions in Yiddish song.
Times vary. £175-£290. SOAS University of London, WC1H 0XG. www.jmi.org.uk