THE RUBBER MERCHANTS
Running time: 2 hrs (with interval)
16+
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION:
The Rubber Merchants is an tragifarce with songs and condoms about the dangers of always staying safe.
Yohanan, Bella, and Shmuel dream of all the usual things: sex, money, and love; but as they set out to get them, they discover that in order to make their dreams come true, they must inevitably take risks.
Written by a celebrated Israeli playwright in 1970s, this story is finding new relevance in the modern post-lockdown world, where people, surrounded by comforts of on-demand streaming, online deliveries and dating apps, no longer feel comfortable with taking everyday life risks of the outside world.
Created by an international creative ensemble, cross-cultural bridge-building is at the heart of this project. The Rubber Merchants unites in it the absurdist comedy of Israeli literature of 20th century, Ukrainian theatre tradition and British styles of performance.
This is an eternal theme of tragedy of the life unlived, especially relevant and controversial in the current climate of post-lockdown confusion around and reluctance to risk exposure.
Performers:
Bella Berlow – Hadas K. Kershaw
A French-Israeli professionally trained full time stage and screen actress, based near London.
The Rubber Merchants is one of two productions Hadas is currently working on.
She has great experience on stage and is now developing herself further on screen in her current web-series project.
Shmuel Sproll – Joseph Emms
Training - Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Theatre Credits - Romeo and Juliet/A Midsummer Night's Dream (Cambridge Shakespeare Festival) The Spanish Tragedy (Lazarus theatre Co) Dragon (Gamayun Theatre)
Film/Television - 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (Channel 4/Zepotron) The Stuart's: A Bloody Reign (UKTV) David and Goliath (US Netflix)
Currently a writer and performer with the comedy troupe 21st Century Cox
Yohanan Tsingerbai – Tom Dayton
Tom is an actor from London. After graduation, he completed a course on Screen Acting at The Actors Centre.
Theatre credits: Taming of the Shrew/ As You Like It (Foot In the Door Theatre) Cockroaches (Gamayun Theatre).
Tom has appeared in many shorts since including 'The Cow Boy', 'cafe talk' and the award-winning 'Lucky Break'. Most recently he portrayed the conflicted character of Rob in 'Sofa Surfer'.
Tom continues to hone his acting skills, preparing for his future feature lead role of Dick in 'Full Bodied'.
Creative and Production team:
Director: Asya Sosis
Movement Director: Mariia Miasnikova
Set Designer: Hardy Gru
Costume Designer: Auda Sakho
Composer: Dmitriy Saratskiy
Lighting Designer: Nat Green
