First look images are released for the world premiere of Shimmy Braun’s Faygele at London’s Marylebone Theatre.
Ilan Galkoff (Backstairs Billy), Ben Caplan (A Sherlock Carol), Clara Francis (Leopoldstadt), Andrew Paul (The Bill), and Yiftach Mizrahi (Band of Spies) star in the world premiere of Shimmy Braun’s Faygele, directed by Hannah Chissick (Jerry’s Girls, Menier Chocolate Factory, Amour, Charing Cross Theatre), at London’s Marylebone Theatre from Wednesday 30 April to Saturday 31 May.
Press night is scheduled for Tuesday 6 May at 7.30pm, with a running time of 90 minutes.
At 13, Ari Freed’s world is upended in an instant when, at his Bar Mitzvah celebration, his father strikes him down with a single word: Faygele. The sting fractures his already delicate sense of self, forcing him into a battle he never asked for.
Faygele is a story of survival in the space between faith and identity, love and duty, past and future, unraveling the complexities of Ari’s adolescence and the relationships that shape him.
Director Hannah Chissick said: “I am delighted to be directing Faygele, coming from a Jewish background myself it is especially thrilling to be bringing this world premiere, from the unique voice of Shimmy Braun to the stage. Whilst rooted firmly in the Orthodox Jewish community, the play is ultimately about self-acceptance and whilst it has a queer character at its centre, it will also resonate with anyone who has found themselves at odds with their upbringing or marginalised within their own community.”
Cast:
- Ilan Galkoff (Ari) was Young Billy in Backstairs Billy and Pauli in Leopoldstadt (both in the West End), Adrian Mole in The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Age 13¾ (Menier Chocolate Factory), Aaron in The Tattooist of Auschwitz (ITV), and Brian in Good Omens (Amazon Prime).
- Ben Caplan (Dr Freed) has just starred for the third year running as Sherlock Holmes in A Sherlock Carol (Marylebone Theatre). He is best known as Police Constable (later Sergeant) Peter Noakes in six series of Call the Midwife (BBC1). He was Edward Kassner in the Olivier Award-winning Kinks musical Sunny Afternoon (Hampstead Theatre/West End) and Josh in Mike Leigh’s Two Thousand Years at the National Theatre, as well as working at the Royal Court Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
- Clara Francis (Mrs Freed) was Wilma in Leopoldstadt (West End). In films, she was Aunt in Seven Jewish Children, Mother in Bardot, and Hinda in Disobedience.
- Andrew Paul (Rabbi Lev) is best known for playing PC Dave Quinnan for 13 years in The Bill (ITV). He was later Maxwell Moon in EastEnders (BBC1) and series regular, rugby player Billy Boothe in Where The Heart Is (ITV).
- Yiftach Mizrahi (Sammy Stein) is an actor and dancer who played Jason Osmond in The Greenhouse Academy (Netflix) and Bobby in Band of Spies (Paramount). He choreographed Israeli productions of West Side Story, Hairspray, and Flashdance. In London, he was in Annie Get Your Gun and From Here To Eternity.
Creative Team:
- Director: Hannah Chissick
- Set & Costume Designer: David Shields
- Lighting Designer: Nic Farman
- Sound Designer: Dan Samson
- Casting Director: Rob Kelly
- Company Stage Manager: Elsie O’Rourke
- Deputy Stage Manager: Jordan Deegen Fleet
- Executive Producer/General Management: Thomas Hopkins Productions
Shimmy Braun, the writer, is a theatre and film producer who has recently added playwright to his credits. Writing credits include Faygele, The Seder, and Five The Parody Musical. Theatre producing credits include Five The Parody Musical (Theatre Fans Choice Award Best Off Broadway Musical), Anthony Rapps’ Without You (Outer Critics Award nomination), The Secret Garden, and Hester Street. Film producing credits include the documentary Conversion and the feature film Bleed Like Me. Current projects include Broadway’s Sunset Boulevard and Gypsy. Recent projects include Tony Award-winning Appropriate and Merrily We Roll Along among others.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
