Holding out brilliant treasures, why does Israeli drama touch people's hearts? Numerous national treasure level artists have successively come to Shanghai for theater, Israel, and people's hearts

With Israeli dramas such as Requiem, Countryside, and Jewish City coming to China for performances in recent years, many viewers have felt the unique charm of Israeli drama. This year, the first "Israel Drama Exhibition" at Shanghai Cultural Square brought the national premiere of three original theatrical works, "The Extra Man," "The Evil Spirit," and "Hamlet," from Israel's Michafega Theatre, Gesher Theatre, and Betlesinghe Theatre.

The first to be performed from July 8th to 9th was the famous Israeli director Yehzki Lazarov's "The Extra People", adapted from the famous work "Oblomov" by Russian author Goncharov. Before entering the venue, the performance began. In the lobby of Shanghai Cultural Square, someone stood on stage giving a speech, and a group of young people danced in the crowd. At the performance, an actor invited the audience onto the stage and slowly danced with them under the spotlight. After the performance, many viewers were invited onto the stage to have a "lying flat" party on a yoga mat.

Stills from "The Extra People"

Why does Israeli drama touch people's hearts? This can be seen from "The Extra People". Yu Jingyi, the producer of the Israeli drama exhibition series, believes that Israeli drama combines local and foreign elements, tradition and experimentation, presenting an inclusive theatrical style. "They are always seeking 'novelty' and striving to create unique works, even based on the same classic text. They must also create a different style and temperament, which is refreshing."

Not defending "lying flat" and inspiring viewers to think about reality

Goncharov's novel "Oblomov" portrays the image of Oblomov, a "superfluous person" who is upright, simple, and kind, but lazy and unrealistic, ultimately leading to a tragic self destruction in a muddled day.

Hundreds of years after the novel was published, Yehzki Lazarov's adaptation of "The Extra People" premiered in Tel Aviv in the new year of 2022. Lazarov's adaptation is based on observation and reflection on the negative emotions of "lying flat" fatigue. Lazarov proposed several propositions in the play: Does a person have the right to spend their life without leaving a trace? Is it worth having a life that deviates from the so-called order of life in a world discourse centered on success, ambition, and goals?

Stills from "The Extra People"

Lazarov is not only a screenwriter and director, but also works in setting design, multimedia design, and choreography. For over 40 years, as a workaholic, Lazarov has always been busy and unable to stop. After the epidemic, he found many young people showing signs of lethargy, hoping for something for nothing. "In 'The Extra People', I hope to ask the audience a question through drama: What kind of life do you really want? How can you find a new state between the extremes of doing everything and not doing anything?"

In the rehearsal of "Extra People"

After watching the performance, Professor Sun Huizhu from Shanghai Theatre Academy said, "This play is not defending 'lying flat', it is full of paradoxes. What impressed me the most was what Oblomov said to his son, 'Let him learn, research, explore, observe, love, fall... leave him a little space to feel bored.' This work has a very wonderful practical significance for us today."

Stills from "The Extra People"

Pioneer adaptation of classic texts, building a cultural bridge

This is the second time that Shanghai Cultural Square has introduced Israeli drama, "A Dream of Children," written by the late Israeli national treasure playwright Hannah Levin in 2019, and presented the profound heritage and contemporary expression of Israeli drama through a series of exhibitions.

After "The Extra People," Israel's Geisser Theatre's "Evil Spirit" will arrive at Shanghai Cultural Square in October this year. This is the most famous work of the famous Jewish writer Anski, created in 1914. This work has been translated into dozens of languages and has been adapted into numerous works such as movies, operas, ballet, and symphonic suites. It is hailed as a shining gem in the history of Jewish drama. The new version created by the Gerschel Theatre in 2014 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the play is about to meet with Chinese audiences. The new version provides a modern interpretation of the story, with multiple Israeli national treasure level actors contributing highly infectious and explosive performances.

Stills from "Evil Spirit"

The Gerschel Theatre was praised by The New York Times as "one of the greatest and most important theaters in the world.". In Hebrew, "Gesher" means "a bridge", and for many years, the Gesher Theater has also become a bridge between Israel and world culture.

In mid November, the Bethlesingh Theatre in Israel will bring "Hamlet", directed by award-winning Israeli youth director Yale Sherman, which boldly and avant-garde adaptations of Shakespeare's original work. This is not Sherman's first encounter with China. In 2019, the Chinese version of "Requiem" directed by him toured multiple times in China. As a rising star in the current Israeli theater industry, "Vanguard" is a major symbol of Sherman. Over the past decade or so, Sherman has directed several classic theatrical works, including "Sichuan Good People," "Emperor's New Clothes," and "Endless Sorrow," and has won numerous awards at major theatrical festivals.

Hamlet stills

Fei Yuanhong, Deputy General Manager of Shanghai Cultural Square, once watched a play in Israel. He believes that the biggest characteristic of Israeli drama is its profound literary and ideological nature. "We hope to highlight the humanistic value in these works and bring more viewers' thoughts, touches, and emotional shock."