‘An act of atonement by the Royal Court’: review of Jews. In Their Own Words.
Jonathan Freedland’s piece of documentary theatre – from an idea by Tracy-Ann Oberman – is imaginative and powerful
When the name Hershel Fink was given to the character of a morally bankrupt non-Jewish billionaire in a play at the Royal Court last year, there was an outcry from Jews, an admission by the theatre of unconscious bias and a last-second change (to Henry Finn). Putting on Jews. In Their Own Words is an act of atonement by the theatre and its artistic director, Vicky Featherstone – who co-directs alongside Audrey Sheffield – and a plea to make the antisemitism stop.
For this verbatim drama, from an idea by Tracy-Ann Oberman, Guardian journalist Jonathan Freedland interviewed 12 Jews, and seven actors channel their characters. A big appeal is that most of the interviewees are public figures. Helpfully – because the actors are in their own clothes throughout, though they add wardrobe items during a scene of historical narrative – when a character begins speaking the name is projected on to the set.
While the interviews were done separately, Freedland writes the 12 on stage together to create a mostly flowing quasi-dialogue. There is ironic humour too: during a discussion of conspiracy tropes, the characters become a high-kicking chorus line, singing a rather (too) catchy number: It’s the Jews that did it/Those dirty stinking Jews.
The monologues reveal the most interesting and troubling stories: businessman and philanthropist Edwin Shuker (played by Hemi Yeroham) tells of seeing the public hanging of Jews in his native Iraq, Margaret Hodge (Debbie Chazen) describes hostile officials visiting her first-generation parents’ home to check how English they are, and Luciana Berger (Louisa Clein) – in a speech delivered with a searing emotional intensity – recalls being threatened, abused and hounded out of the Labour Party by supporters of Jeremy Corbyn.
Conversation shifts from the tropes of money, blood and power to the responses of others to accusations of antisemitism, including the inevitable: “But my problem is not Jews, it’s Israel.” In the final scene, the actors break the fourth wall to reveal that they are all Jewish.
Two previous Royal Court plays, Perdition (1987) and Caryl Churchill’s Seven Jewish Children (2009), have been accused of perpetuating antisemitism. The former was cancelled before it opened. The latter is referenced in this play, about which Churchill has written to the Guardian in complaint.
The punctuation of the title suggests the aim of ‘putting a full stop’ to antisemitism; we can but hope. What is certain is that this imaginative blend of polemic life and real life will appeal to Jews and non-Jews alike.
At the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, Royal Court, London until 22 October.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
