Manchester Jewish Museum

SYNAGOGUE NIGHTS

A season of intimate performances in our synagogue

Synagogue Nights are back! Join us this autumn for a series of atmospheric evening events in the unique setting of our 1874 Spanish & Portuguese synagogue.

Immerse yourself in captivating shows and concerts which celebrate Jewish art in all its diversity.

From eclectic grooves and mesmerising vocals to lesser-heard stories from the past, this year’s programme brings together artists from a wide range of genres.

Programme:

Fran & Flora

Sunday, 22 October, 7PM

Fran & Flora are quickly becoming one of the UK’s most sought-after bands. This UK experimental folk duo draw inspiration from their travels and mentors in eastern Europe and beyond. Their compositions stem from the melodies of Klezmer, Transylvanian, Romanian, Greek and Armenian music, as well as drawing on archival recordings. Fran & Flora seek to combine elements of these rich musical traditions with their ever evolving, experimental collaboration.

Journeys into Jewish song with James Nissen

Sunday, 29 October, 7PM

A voyage of discovery into songs from across the Jewish diaspora. From Yiddish to Ladino, history to present day, we’ll explore the journeys that the Jewish people made, through songs of love, loss, exile, and resilience. Join to sing along and dance, listen and learn, laugh or cry – let’s go on our own personal journey through song!

“Kravitz, Cohen, Bernstein and me” by Deb Filler

Thursday, 9 November, 7PM

Multi award-winning Kiwi/Canadian/Jewish comedienne, Deb Filler, goes on a hilarious musical quest meeting ‘The Three Lennys’, even singing The Beatles in Yiddish! With only a guitar, (mostly) true stories and a raft of lovable characters, this jam-packed, deeply humorous, incredibly poignant show is a story about empowering our true selves and embracing music and our mentors, whose powerful influence will linger long after the curtain goes down.

Noga Ritter Trio

Thursday, 16 November, 7PM

Following on from last year’s sold-out show, Noga and her band return to Manchester with their genre-blending grooves. Expect an electric atmosphere and some new sounds from her recently released debut solo album, “Ima ”.

Becoming Nigella

Sunday, 26 November, 7PM

A funny, heart-warming and mouth-salivating new musical. When Anna’s estranged mother passes away, she inherits Nigella Lawson’s seminal cookbook, ‘How to Eat’ along with the spirit of Nigella Lawson – who pushes Anna into learning the joys of cooking, failing, and, most importantly, eating.

Out of Exile: The Photography of Fred Stein

Sunday, 3 December, 7PM

A multi-award-winning documentary that traces the extraordinary life of Fred Stein and his stunning photographic work. His rich portfolio includes over 1200 portraits of some of the most prominent people of the mid-20th century, a famous photo of Albert Einstein and Hannah Arendt among them.

How did these works survive one of history’s darkest moments, as the Nazi menace thrust Stein into a life of upheaval? What inspired Stein to create thousands of brilliant photographs, a testament to the human spirit? And what moved his son to carry on after Stein’s death, bringing the work back from obscurity? Come to find out.

PROGRAMME

Noga Ritter Trio: With the new album “Ima”

Following on from the sold-out 2022 show, Noga Ritter Trio return to Manchester with a newly released album. Come listen to Noga's new songs, tracing influences from her upbringing, travels and encounters and sing-along to the firm favourites. Expect an electric show and get moving to these irresistible sounds!

Out Of Exile: The Photography of Fred Stein

Join us for the Manchester premiere of this award-winning documentary about the unknown photographer who created iconic images of the 20th century. The film will be followed by a discussion with director Peter Stein and Manchester Jewish Museum's curator, Alex Cropper.

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