Ansky's most famous work 'The Dybbuk' to be staged in October

The Shanghai Culture Square will stage Jewish writer, polemicist, political and cultural activist S Ansky's play "The Dybbuk" in October.

After Mitcha Figa Theatre's "The Superfluous Man," "The Dybbuk," a Gesher Theatre production, is the second performance of the 2023 Israeli Theater Showcase in Shanghai. Beit Lessin Theatre's "Hamlet" is the last of the three performances.

"The Dybbuk" is a mix of "Romeo and Juliet" and "The Exorcist" about two friends who agree on a marriage contract for their children. But when the children grow up, the girl's father promises her to someone else, and the poor boy turns to the dybbuk for help.

Created in 1914, "The Dybbuk" is the Russian author's most famous work and is recognized as the brightest pearl in the history of Jewish theater.

It has been translated into dozens of languages, performed thousands of times around the world, and adapted into films, operas, ballets and symphonies over the last hundred years.

Gesher Theatre's "The Dybbuk" is based on a new script that was rewritten from the original in 2014 on the 100th anniversary of the play.

This new production combines traditional and modern stage design. Powerful performances by several famous Israeli actors bring to life the greatness of the play. It addresses humanity's contemporary issue of kinship and emotional attachment beyond life and death.

The long-running Gesher Theatre in Israel is the world's only theater made up of immigrants. "Gesher" means "bridge" in Hebrew. Gesher Theatre has long served as a link between Israel and the rest of the world. The New York Times has praised it as "one of the greatest and most important theaters in the world."

Performance info:

Date: October 28, 7:30pm; October 29, 2pm, 7:30pm

Tickets: 80-780 yuan

Venue: Shanghai Culture Square

上海文化广场

Address: 597 Fuxing Rd M.

复兴中路597号