Purim Uncut 2018
Following the success of the first iteration of the show, we reprised it with a few changes, added puppetry and made it even crazier and funnier!
Cast:
Guest Musician:
Steph began playing the violin and piano aged 4; by 12, he had completed all of ABRSM’s 8 grades on both instruments and began developing himself in areas not covered by the syllabus. As a self-taught guitarist, this new instrument opened up a new palate of genres (rock, jazz, pop and more) which he incorporated into his violin and piano playing alongside Middle Eastern and Oriental influences from his family heritage.
For the past few years he has also been front man of London-based rock trio Immortal Machinery who regularly perform up and down the UK as well as in Scandinavia and Europe.
Bios
Tom Reade trained on The Royal Academy of Music’s post-graduate Musical Theatre course, from which he graduated with distinction, after a three year undergraduate in Music at Sussex University. Tom simultaneously took piano as a primary study at Trinity College of Music and has spent his career combining his skills as an Actor Musician, Singer and Musical Director.
Recent credits include: Harry Witherspoon in Lucky Stiff (The Union Theatre), Roger Edens in Judy! (Arts Theatre), 1st Cover James and Dean in The Commitments Uk Tour (CJay Ranger), Roger Edens in Through The Mill (directed by Ray Rackham/Southwark Playhouse), Lenny in Romance, Romance (directed by Rob McWhir/the Landor Theatre), Actor A in Noel Coward: A Talent to Amuse (directed by Phillip Franks/St. James) and the Steward in Into the Woods (directed by Emma Edwards/Emporium Theatre).
Roles in Training: Enoch Snow in Carousel (director Ken Caswell/Sir Jack Lyons Theatre), Craig in Fanaticals workshop (director Lottie Wakeham), Henry Higgins/Ensemble in My Fair Lady(directed by Matt Ryan), Presidents Ford/Garfield/McKinley in Assassins (directed by Sam Yates) and Ensemble in Friday Night is Music Night (BBC Radio 4).
Tamar Geist trained at “Beit-Zvi School of the Performing Arts” (Israel), where she engaged in various productions among which: “Hair” (Dionne), “All’s Well that Ends Well” (The Countess of Roussillon), “Marat/Sade”(Kukuricou), “Women of Troy”(Cassandra);
Other credits include Maria in “West side Story” and Marsina from “Kismet”, with the Encore Educational Theatre (Israel);
Tamar continued her studies in opera training at the “Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance”, where she completed her BA in vocal studies.
Solo performances include: Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas (Belinda) and Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater with the ‘Jerusalem Camerata Orchestra’, and Schubert’s Mass in G with the ‘Tel-Aviv Soloist Ensemble’.
Currently Tamar studies at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in the MA Voice Studies department;
This year Tamar started to conduct and serve as the vocal coach of the Goodenough Choir at the international “Goodenough” Halls of Residence in London.
Shar Shamai recently completed his second MA degree in music - MA Musical Theatre, at The Guildford School of Acting (GSA). He came to the UK after graduating with an MA in Classical Singing at the Jerusalem Academy of Music & Dance. Shar is currently teaching singing at ‘The American Musical Theatre Academy’ (London), ‘Performance Preparation Academy’ (Guildford) and Love Theatre Arts he is fascinated by the human voice.
Shar derives great pleasure from the JEWish Cabaret as a creative opportunity to touch peoples hearts and make them laugh, he wrote ‘The Threesome Tango’ for this production and hope to write a lot more in the future.
Martha Pothen is an actor, singer and writer recently graduated from the Royal Academy of Music. At the Academy, where she gained an Masters in Musical Theatre, she was awarded a DipRAM for exceptional performance in her industry showcase. Credits whilst training include Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd and Fosca in Passion both directed by Matt Ryan. Martha made her professional debut in November 2017 in the Union Theatre's Privates of Parade for which she was nominated for an OFFIE (Female Performance in a Supporting Role). Martha is so happy to be joining the Jewish Cabaret for a second year, despite (still) not being Jewish.
David Djemal is an actor and singer who has been performing professionally since the age of nine. As a child he was a member of the "Jerusalem Boys Oratorio" and performed in many professional functions, including a performance in front of Pope John Paul II on his visit to Israel in March 2000. 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. During his studies at the Academy he was awarded First Prize in the HL Hammond Verse Speaking and Poetry Reading competition, and had the opportunity to sing for notable Performers and Musical directors such as Dame Angela Lansbury, James Orange, Harriet Thorpe, Gareth Valentine, Jo Davies, Jeremy Sams, Matt Ryan, Seann Alderking & David Charles Abell.
David has performed in a variety of venues both in Israel and in the UK, including the Sherover Theatre in Jerusalem, and as a soloist at the Prince Edward Theatre on the West End and the Guildhall Great Hall in London. Since graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in 2015 he has played the lead role of Benny in “Scoop” at the Rose Playhouse, originated three roles in workshops of new musical theatre materials both in the UK and in Israel, and performed in several cabarets.
Ashley Racov is thrilled to once again be working with The JEWish Cabaret on their second 'Purim Cabaret'. Having spent many years training abroad, she returned to the UK to further develop her skills by training at Southampton Solent University. Other than working on this incredible show, Ashley is also continuing to develop her own writing as well as working on the Fringe sell out show 'Harry Poppers and the Deathly Swallows' which is on its way back to the Edinburgh Fringe. In addition, she has just finished reprising her role as Anna Labia in the musical 'Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens' at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern.
Other credits include: 'We're Still Here' by The JEWish Cabaret, 'Rent!' by TwoBox Productions, ‘Tied’ (directed by Ashley) by RoundBox Productions, ‘Terezin’ by Artifice Community Arts, ‘If The Whole Body Dies’ (a Bob Skloot play) by Lemkin Productions, ‘Wanting, A Butoh Performance’ by Troupe Movements, ‘With Grace’ by Bournemouth University, ‘My Saviour’ by Breezeblock Productions and ‘The Wakeup Call’ by Blue Bottle Productions.
