CULTURE
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Meet the Artists — Jewish Renaissance
Introducing the six artists selected for JR’s inaugural Artist Development Scheme Following 7 October, JR is more committed than ever to supporting the creation of Jewish culture, as well as reporting on it. Therefore, in 2025, we’re running our Artists Development Scheme. We’re delighted to announce the six artists chosen to participate: Bruno Grad, Coral Harding, Emma Grant, Esther Gabrielle…
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The Lady who Changed Dickens’s Mind on the Jews — Jewish Renaissance
Dickens’s act of “atoning” came in literary form. His last completed novel, Our Mutual Friend (his 14th), contained the character of a “benevolent Jew”: Mr Riah. Though Dickens didn’t explicitly acknowledge the link between the creation of this character and their correspondence, Mrs Davis would lay claim to Mr Riah; and John Forster, in his biography of Dickens, and with…
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A Dog’s life in Germany in the 1930s — Jewish Renaissance
Shahaf Beer’s one-person play (performed by Harry Drummond) is inspired by the bestselling novel by fellow Israeli Asher Kravitz. The entire story is narrated from the perspective of the central character – a dog. Fellow dog lover and owner Judi Herman spoke to Beer to find out more about the production. Judi Herman: Can you tell us about the unusual technique you use with…
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The Brutalist ★★ — Jewish Renaissance
The film is divided into three parts with a runtime of over three hours, including a 15-minute intermission. The visuals are stunning, particularly a dream-like sequence inside a Carrara marble quarry. The score by musician Daniel Blumberg throbs with a muscular power. Much like László’s buildings, this is a sprawling, ambitious and daring piece of work, which isn’t necessarily a…
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A Complete Unknown ★★★★★ — Jewish Renaissance
The story then jumps to 1965. Dylan is now incredibly famous but feeling frustrated, desperate to break free from the stifling constraints of folk’s dogmas. Rebellious, angry and determined to constantly reinvent himself, Dylan begins experimenting with electric guitar. This is anathema to Seeger and the proponents of trad folk. “They just want me singing ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ for…
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Oliver! ★★★★★
Lionel Bart’s classic musical through the generations: Judi Herman reflects on Oliver! since her inaugural childhood visit, as grandson Dylan experiences it for the first time The beloved phenomenon that is Lionel Bart’s Oliver! first opened in London in June 1960. Happily, for me, my parents deemed me old enough aged nine or 10 to see it during that first…
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Road Show ★★★★
Time to hit the road to Highgate to catch this rare Sondheim revival Based on a true – and truly American – story of aspiration, ambition and brotherly rivalry over decades, this Stephen Sondheim musical makes a return to London. Alongside collaborator and book writer John Weidman, the US composer has worked on factual musicals before, including Pacific Overtures and…
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Goldie Frocks and the Bear Mitzvah ★★★★★ — Jewish Renaissance
An all-singing, all-dancing journey through London’s Jewish East End that’ll enthrall all ages Playwright Nick Cassenbaum presents JW3’s second annual family-friendly Jewish pantomime, putting a Yiddish twist on the classic story of Goldilocks. I was joined by my six-year-old son Taylor, watching seamstress Goldie Frocks (played by Heloise Lowenthal) on a mission to save Baby Behr (Frankie Thompson) from the…
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The Happiest Man on Earth ★★★★★
Kenneth Tigar honours the strength, determination and legacy of Holocaust survivor Eddie Jaku, a man who repeatedly stared death in the face and laughed Eddie Jaku was born in Leipzig, Germany, in April 1920 and lived to see humanity at its most evil. He was imprisoned in four concentration camps, survived two death marches and lost both his parents to…
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Frank Auerbach 1931-2024 — Jewish Renaissance
To the end, Auerbach spoke and wrote very little about his profound experience of dislocation and loss. In his own words: “I think I did this thing, which psychiatrists frown on: I am in total denial. It’s worked very well for me.” Nevertheless, several commentators on his work have chosen to interpret his obsession in the immediate post-war era with…
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