The JEWish CABARET is a theatre group which aims to create innovative, socially aware, and entertaining music and theatre productions that challenge perceptions and stereotypes through humour and satire, while drawing from our Jewish and LGBTQ+ identity and culture.
Since its creation, The JEWish CABARET has written and produced two Purim cabarets/adult pantomimes based on stories from the Old Testament, as well as a musical revue which raised funds for the persecuted LGBTQ community in Chechnya.
In 2018 we created an original new musical named “Café Named Desire” (previously known as "Jew You Love Me?") which was written in a devised process with our cast and tackled modern issues of love, religion and sexuality. It has since performed successfully in London and in Israel.
During the pandemic we produced an anti-racism music video "You've Got a Friend" in 22 different languages raising money for racial equality, and an original song called "Plagues" reacting to the rise in racism during the pandemic. Since then we curated two Hebrew poetry evenings, and a comedy-cabaret. And now working towards our new adventure - "Stages" a new devised musical that will be created in a collaborative style and will explore the important theme of being an immigrant theatre performer in the UK.
We aim to create and maintain a community of theatre makers who work together and support each other in their creative undertakings. We believe this provides a safe framework which incubates the talents of young artists of all faiths who are interested in interfaith and intersectional dialogues.
The Team:
Shar shamai
Artistic Director & co-founder
Shar is an Israel-born, London-based librettist, lyricist, poet, composer, director, and vocal coach. He holds an MA in Classical Singing from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance and an MA in Musical Theatre from Guildford School of Acting (GSA). Shar has over 15 years of teaching experience across various international and UK-based institutions, including Urdang Academy, London Studio Centre (LSC), International College of Musical Theatre (ICMT), Performance Preparation Academy (PPA), and City Lit, one of London’s leading adult education colleges.
As a vocal coach, Shar has worked on acclaimed productions, including the Israeli versions of Dear Evan Hansen and Waitress at The Cameri Theatre, and Rock in the Shul at The Incubator Theatre. He frequently teaches and lectures internationally, leading courses in Israel, Italy, and the Netherlands, and preparing students for LCM exams and higher education. Many of his private students have gone on to perform in major musical theatre productions or attend prestigious institutions like the Royal Academy of Music, GSA, and The Hartt School Theatre Division in the USA.
As a librettist and lyricist, Shar is currently developing two original musicals in Israel. SONIA premiered in December 2023 at Haifa Theatre and the Israeli Opera House, marking a significant milestone in Israeli musical theatre. His second project, Manhood Part 1, recently had a workshop at The Cameri Theatre, which Shar also directed. He is an active participant in London’s prestigious BML (Book, Music, Lyrics) program for emerging musical theatre writers. His latest large-scale commission, GRACE — a 15-minute oratorio for orchestra, choir, and two soloists, commissioned by The Revolution Orchestra as a musical response to Bach — is due to premiere in November 2025.
Shar is the founder and artistic director of The JEWish CABARET, a creative collective that has produced numerous shows celebrating multiculturalism, immigration, and LGBTQ+ experiences. Their debut musical, Café Named Desire, was widely acclaimed in London and toured Israel. The group is now developing a new musical, STAGES, focusing on immigrants’ experiences in London’s performing arts industry. During the pandemic, Shar directed You’ve Got a Friend, a multilingual music video promoting racial equality, and composed Plagues, an original song addressing the rise of racism. These projects reflect his commitment to advocacy and inclusivity in the arts.
Shar is also a published poet whose work has been recognized internationally. His poetry inspired the short film Poetry in Motion – Dew Drops, commissioned for the Worcester Loud & Queer Festival in 2023, and he received first prize in the Helicon writing competition in Israel.
Ashley Racov
Co-manager
Ashley is a British-Israeli UK born actress, singer, and producer who immigrated out to Israel for 7 years, and then back to the UK. As a result she spent many years training and performing abroad before returning to the UK to develop her skills even further by training at Southampton Solent University where she graduated with a first class degree.
Since moving to London, Ashley has been acting and assisting with productions. She has worked with award winning TwoBox Productions multiple times as well as being a founding member of No Agenda.
Ashley has been with The JEWish CABARET since its inception performing and assisting each production until becoming a more formal part of the team. Since being promoted to Co-Manager, Ashley has worked on, as well as acted in, their original musical Café Named Desire, both Poets’ Cabarets and all covid video projects, among others.
Other than working with this fantastic theatre company, Ashley is also continuing to develop her own writing, and is the lead singer in the band Marshporm as well.
ANNA OGGERO
associate producer
Originally from Italy, Anna is a London-based theatre producer, Performing Arts teacher, and performer. After graduating in Performing Arts from the Accademia dello Spettacolo in Turin, Italy, and getting a Bachelor’s and Master’s combined degree from Law University of Turin, Anna moved to London in 2017 to study at Goldsmiths University where she graduated with distinction from the MA in Musical Theatre – Production.
Anna is the Company Producer at PROJEKT EUROPA, and is currently collaborating as an independent producer with Opera Co-Pro Ltd, the JEWish Cabaret and Trinacria Theatre Company and on The Call Project with Exchange Theatre.
Until November 2022 Anna was Associate Producer at Proud Haddock Productions Ltd working towards the delivery of the Artistic Programme and shows: Charlie’s Aunt (2021, online, raising funds for the Equity Charitable Trust), How to Survive an Apocalypse (2021, Finborough Theatre) and Yeast Nation – The Triumph of Life (2022, Southwark Playhouse). Prior to that she was General Manager at Finchley Children’s Music Group, and producer on a number of projects such as The Hades and Persephone Project by Trinacria Theatre Company; My Heart is in The East presented by the H.E.A.T. Collective, The Fence and Az Theatre and Café Named Desire (previously known as Jew You Love Me?) by the JEWish Cabaret.
As a teacher of performing Arts Anna has taught at various Performing Arts Schools first in Italy and then around London. Currently she is teacher of Drama and Music at Sial.school; Head of Singing at Almost Famous Performing Arts and Drama Teacher for Little Voices SWL (for the LAMDA examinations).
Ayelet (Lilly) Sheffer
Creative assistant
Ayelet (Lilly) Sheffer moved to London in 2023 to pursue a BA in Theatre and Creative Writing at Brunel University London.
Her academic work focuses on writing for musical theatre, combining her interests in narrative, music, and performance. Ayelet is a recipient of the Brunel Music Award, which recognises talented students who contribute to the university’s creative and performance community.
Before beginning her degree, Ayelet completed two dubbing courses and the Fundamentals of Composition & Performance programme at BPM College. She also studied musical theatre writing privately for two years under composer and lyricist Ohad Hitman, developing her skills in storytelling through song. Her creative interests began early, having written her first book at the age of ten.
Ayelet is currently writing an original musical inspired by her grandfather’s life. As part of her placement, she serves as a Creative Writing Intern with THE JEWish CABARET, contributing to new works and projects that explore musical storytelling and performance.
Ariel por
Eliezerov
Artistic Coordinator
An Israel-born, London-based multidisciplinary performer. In 2023 she relocated to the UK to pursue her Master’s degree in Musical Theatre at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. After graduating, she moved to London, where she continues to expand her artistic practice, audition, and perform - including taking on the role of Artistic Coordinator at THE JEWish CABARET, which she is thrilled to be part of.
Raised in a family of performers, Ariel grew up surrounded by art, theatre, and music. From an early age she accompanied her parents to rehearsals and shows, often stepping on stage herself. She attended a Waldorf school where creativity and performance were central to the curriculum. At 14 she played Fantine in the school’s production of Les Misérables, and the following year she directed, produced, and performed in a dialogue-based show with 14 young women, donating the proceeds to the Juvenile Diabetes Society.
Following her school years, Ariel committed herself fully to musical theatre, training intensively in singing, dance (ballet, modern, jazz, tap, improvisation), and English. She also began writing and recording original songs and covers, which she shared online. Before moving to the UK, she performed professionally with Pashut Forest Theatre in Israel, taking on title roles in The Little Prince and The Nightingale.
Past members of the team:
david djemal
Co-founder
David Djemal is an actor and singer who has been performing professionally since the age of nine.
David studied acting at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York, the Yoram Lowenstein Studio for Performing Arts in Tel Aviv, and is also a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he graduated from the Musical Theatre Post-Graduate programme with distinction.
