Review: JEWS. IN THEIR OWN WORDS, Royal Court Theatre
Photo credit: Manuel Harlan
Jews. In Their Own Words is titled a ‘Theatrical Inquiry’, which is a perfect title for the piece. A highly educational, captivating, moving and at times theatricalised show that takes its audience on an informative and gripping journey of the roots of anti semitism in England and its shocking ever presence in the course of just 1 hour 40 minutes. This is an impressive feat which covers a lot of ground in a well written, performed, directed and designed show.
Jonathan Freedland draws on the interviews of 13 people as the basis for the play and all dialogue is based on these interviews. Interview subjects: Phillip Abrahams, Luciana Berger, Joshua Bitensky, Stephen Bush, Victoria Hart, Margaret Hodge, Howard Jacobson, Tracy- Ann Oberman, Dave Rich, Hannah Rose, Tammy Rothenberg, Edwin Shuker.
Co directed by Vicky Featherstone and Audrey Sheffield, the two draw out very moving performances from the cast, who are completely believable as the interview subjects with the passion with which they deliver the text. The tone is an effective blend of naturalistic dialogue based sections (which dominate the piece) as the cast take turns in sharing their stories around a conference table and sometimes spotlighted under microphones, with theatricalised sections that include a satirical musical number mocking the anti-symetic conspiracy theories and stereotypes that have circulated for centuries. A disturbingly effective scene utilised a Brechtian style whereby the cast are raised onto a platform within the Royal Court’s stage and are dressed in medieval garb and garish masks (as though picked out of a children’s costume box). They physicalise a retelling of the horrific blood libel myth of the death of ‘Little Saint Hugh of Lincoln’ which propagated the mythology across Europe, whereby Jews were falsely accused of sacrificing Christian children. This section powerfully stands out in how it is physicalised by the cast - it would have been interesting to see more use of a similar style of story telling rather than the heavy reliance on the more conversational, documentary formatted delivery, which although informative, lacked artistic gumption at times. However, the simplicity of the performers talking to one another and to the audience to share the very personal, traumatic and intimate stories of the interview subjects was still effective in communicating the information.
This is a highly educational and effective piece of theatre that deserves to be seen and plauded for giving space to a desperately needed inquiry - the inquiry into the ever present pulse of anti-semitism which still beats in our supposedly modern world. This show demands that we ask ourselves where these prejudices are born, where they still function and how we can hold ourselves accountable to call it out in action. As the cast asks of us in their closing lines, come to see this show and question where your own subconscious biases and prejudices lie, for we all possess them, and to ignore them only ignites ignorance in a flammable climate.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Viv Williams
Jews. In Their Own Words plays at the Royal Court until 22 October, with tickets available here.