From the Director Gary Abrahams
”Yentl is one of those rare examples of a story that manages to be many things at once. It is culturally specific but also absolutely universal. It is rooted in historical context but also dynamically contemporary. It is known to audiences through culturally significant adaptations, but also has more than enough breadth and depth to allow for new takes on the material that reveal stunning surprises.
As a character, Yentl means a great deal to many people. Like the story she inhabits she also manages to be many things. She is certainly a cornerstone of Yiddish literature and Yiddish culture, containing the best aspects of Judaism - bravery, rebelliousness and deep spiritual curiosity. It's not for us to label her. Nor is it our job to police how anyone receives her within a contemporary context.
This new adaptation takes all the dualities and pluralities of the story and translates them into a theatrical language that itself holds many things at once. A period piece that feels modern. A classic work that is in fact brand new. And a story about an entire shtetl of characters that is performed by a cast of only four.
Everything in this adaptation comes directly from Singer's remarkable short story. Nothing has been added or altered to suit our own agenda. It is simply our role to delve deep into the original text, and bring it to theatrical life with rigour, authenticity, and deep cultural connection. And to create a show that is entertaining, thought provoking and emotionally moving.”
Gary Abrahams, Co-Writer and Director of ‘Yentl’ | Executive Director of Kadimah Yiddish Theatre