When
Where
Manchester Jewish Museum's former synagogue
Fee
£12 (includes the show, post-performance conversation with the artist and a drink from the museum's cafe)
Estranged half brothers, Steven and David are brought together for a shiva where long buried family secrets are brought to the surface. A work-in-progress performance as part of Synagogue Scratch season.
Amy is a Mancunian Jewish actor and writer who recently graduated from the University of Cambridge. She is passionate about telling northern contemporary stories with a Jewish influence as well as incorporating verbatim testimony and interview into a script.
Her first full length play, “Life Before the Line”, won the prestigious Cambridge University Edinburgh Fringe Fund Prize – an award in which one piece of new writing is selected to be fully funded at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. “Life Before the Line” went on to receive critical acclaim in Cambridge and at the Edinburgh Fringe, with five-star reviews, sold out performances and a transfer to the Cockpit theatre in London.
“We Wish You Long Life” is Amy’s new piece of writing. It was originally performed as part of a short play festival, “One Play One Day”, produced by Reload Theatre Company, in which six short plays were written, rehearsed and performed to a live audience, all within twenty four hours. It has then been developed as a longer piece of theatre as an exploration into the lives of a Jewish-Irish Catholic family and the shared cultural history of these two communities.
Steven, raised Catholic, is brought begrudgingly by his wife, Leah, to a Jewish house of mourning for a person who he doesn’t seem to remember. Father and daughter, David and Katie, await the arrival of the Irish Catholic side of their family to resolve long buried secrets. And Karen, a food caterer, is working at her strangest event yet. “We Wish You Long Life“ explores cultural integration, shared memory and family ties.
Writer: Amy Lever
Director: Helen Perry
Producer: Danny Ryder
Assistant Producer: Tilly Sutcliffe
In collaboration with Reload theatre Company
Cast:
STEVEN – Robin Simpson
DAVID – Danny Ryder
LEAH – Orline Riley
KATIE – Amy Lever
KAREN – Tilly Sutcliffe
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Please note that this performance may contain adult themes and strong language. The recommended age for this performance is 16+.
This performance has been developed from a short play and will be performed for the first time with this new cast. This evening event is an exciting opportunity for you to help support local artists and grow stories about Manchester Jewish experiences. After the performance we invite you to meet the cast and writer, have a chat and tell us what you think over a drink! Your feedback will help the artists shape the piece for future performances.
The doors will be open from 6PM on the day of the performance. The museum Cafe will be selling food as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks before the performance. Please note, that food and drinks cannot be taken into the synagogue space, so if you’d like to use the Café, please allow yourself additional time before the event.
The performance will start a 7PM and last approximately 40 minutes. The performance will then be followed by an evening of conversation with the artist, so you can help develop and grow the piece – exciting! As part of the ticket price, you will receive one drink (white or red wine, beer or soft drink/tea/coffee) for after the show.
Please note, that this event takes place at our historic synagogue with on-side seating. The synagogue will have seating areas for those with accessibility needs to enjoy the performance. Please e-mail tickets@manchesterjewishmuseum.com ahead of the event to arrange for any additional accessibility needs.
HOW TO GET HERE
We are located on Cheetham Hill Road, just 15 minutes’ walk from Manchester’s Victoria train station and 30 minutes’ walk from Manchester City Centre. We encourage you to use public transport when travelling to the museum. You can get here by bus (135 or 41), Metrolink or train. Click HERE to see all of your travel options.
ACCESS INFORMATION
There is step free access to the museum entrance via a ramp, a lift to the first floor, level access throughout the ground floor and two accessible gender-neutral toilets. Click HERE for more access information.
