THEATER J PRESENTS FREE READINGS

AS PART OF MIDDLE EAST FESTIVAL

For information on the Israel Horovitz play and other responses, click here.

SEVEN JEWISH CHILDREN
By Caryl Churchill

 - Followed by -

SEVEN PALESTINIAN CHILDREN
By Deb Margolin

THE EIGHTH CHILD
By Robbie Gringras

Directed by Michael Dove and Ari Roth

Wednesday, March 25 at 8pm and Thursday, March 26 at 10 pm
 

A reading and critical discussion of the controversial 10-minute play - subtitled a play for Gaza - written as a direct response to the recent Israeli military campaign in Gaza in December 2008 and January 2009.  Unfolding in seven sparsely poetic scenes and written in free-form verse, unnamed characters instruct their children, how best respond to the violent, provoking world around them.  The short reading will be followed by artistic reactions to the play from authors moved to respond to Churchill’s play in dramatic verse and discussions with the audience about the play’s presentation and the controversy surrounding it, both in London and in the US.

With: Jeff Allin, Eliza Bell, Fiona Blackshaw, Elizabeth Richards, Alexander Strain, Delia Taylor, Jesse Terrill and Michael Tolaydo

FULL PRESS RELEASE FROM THEATER J

Press from Around the World:

Washington Post

New York Times

Responses to Seven Jewish Children:

In response to this play by Carly Churchill requests were made to certain playwrights to read and respond to the text how they see fit.  Here are a few of those responses.

Israel Horovitz' intro letter

Israel Horovitz' play response: What Strong Fences Make

Robbie Gringas': The Eighth Child

For more on the conversion please visit Theater J's blog