Fancy a fantastic night out with top-quality shows right on your doorstep?

Then take a look at Southend Theatres. Between the 1,600-seat Cliffs Pavilion and the Edwardian splendour of the Palace Theatre, there’s an outstanding programme of entertainment for you to enjoy here in Essex. Below, we pick out five upcoming highlights to suit all ages and tastes:

1. Operation Mincemeat (31 Aug – 5 Sep at the Cliffs Pavilion) is the 2024 Olivier Award-winning Best New Musical. It’s London’s biggest hit with 113 five star reviews, making it the best-reviewed show in West End history.

Singin’ in the Rain meets Strangers on a Train, Operation Mincemeat is the fast-paced, hilarious and unbelievable true story of the twisted secret mission that won us World War II. Not to be missed.

2. The Choir of Man (15 – 19 Sep at the Cliffs Pavilion) is another Olivier Award nominated show coming to Southend direct from the West End.

Brimming with hits from artists such as Queen, Luther Vandross, Sia, Paul Simon, Adele, Guns N’ Roses, Avicii and Katy Perry to name but a few, this is like being in the best pub in the world.

3. Dial M for Murder (12 – 16 Aug Aug at the Palace) takes you back to London, 1952. Former tennis professional Tony Wendice and his wealthy wife Margot appear to have it all. But everything is not as it seems. Tony believes he has orchestrated the perfect murder of Margot, but when the plan goes wrong it leads to a gripping web of lies, betrayal and lethal twists.

Don’t miss this masterclass in suspense that inspired the cinematic masterpiece. Dial M for Murder is a tour de force of psychological tension.

4. Dog Man: The Musical  (18 – 20 Aug at the Palace) is a hilarious new musical based on the worldwide bestselling book series from Dav Pilkey, the creator of Captain Underpants and Cat Kid Comic Club.

Dog Man is the crime-biting sensation who is part dog, part man and ALL HERO! But while trying his best to be a good boy, can he save the city from Flippy the cyborg fish and his army of Beasty Buildings? A hugely entertaining show for children and adults alike. 

5. Wilko: Love and Death and Rock’n’Roll (12 – 17 Oct at the Palace) celebrates the life and music of Wilko Johnson.

In 2012, Wilko, the iconic rock star and founder of legendary Essex band Dr Feelgood, was told he had inoperable cancer and a year to live. Refusing all treatment, he decided to spend his last months living meaningfully: seeing the people, places and things which meant most to him during his remarkable life. Then, a miracle happened…

• Tickets for all these shows are on sale now from www.southendtheatres.org.uk or by calling 0343 310 0030.

The post From West End to Southend – the hit shows coming to Essex appeared first on Essex Jewish News.

It’s not often you get to attend the world premiere of a new theatre production right here in Essex.

Especially when that show is the eagerly awaited first musical from Mischief… the creators of hilarious hit West End comedy The Play That Goes Wrong.

But so it was that my teenage children and I sat in Mercury Theatre to watch the very first performance of Thespians: Greece The Musical (But Not That One).

I’ve reviewed many shows, films and concerts over three decades, but there’s nothing quite like putting your pen down and seeing how the kids enjoy it.

And enjoy it they did… eyes transfixed to the stage, laughing throughout and pointing out any references, puns and theatre or historical in-jokes that I had missed.

To try to explain the plot of a Mischief production would be pointless, but the basics are we follow a team of five friends in Ancient Greece – loosely based on characters from history and mythology – who have to move from their tiny island of Ikaria to Athens, enter a prayer competition to try and stop a dreadful drought, and end up inventing theatre as we know it today.

A mix of musical, slapstick and pantomime, we get tales of friendship, family, lost love, found love, betrayal, redemption, a baddie you will love to hate and heroes you want to see rewarded.

Written by Mischief’s Jonathan Sayer and Ed Zanders, the gags and comic moments come thick and fast as you’d expect.

The songs are catchy, and the lyrics silly. It can take a short while to get to grips with the world it is set in, but once you do you’ll fall in love.

The cast – Allie Dart as Rhapsodes, Claire-Marie Hall as Poly, James Spence as Thespis, Luke Latchman as Atlas, Marc Pickering as Adonis, Matt Cavendish as Bard, Mia Jerome as Melampus and Rhys Taylor as The Tyrant, with an ensemble of Ashley Tucker, Josh Patel-Foster and Curtis Patrick – are simply fantastic.

They blend over-the-top antics and camp villainy with genuine emotional warmth that makes you want to see what happens next – all delivered with an energy that never seems to end. You get the impression watching that they are having as much fun as we are!

Add in the superb choreography from Melody Sinclair-Marsh, stage design from Jasmine Swan and direction from Robyn Grant, and everything comes together perfectly.

Ultimately the show is a love letter to theatre, giving a (historically inaccurate but hilariously funny) account of its origins and the story of Thespis, the world’s first actor.

There are nods to so many other productions and pop culture favourites – Wicked, Chicago and Notting Hill among them – that you can see just how much the writers love their craft.

Another important point is that Thespians – playing in local theatres around the country – is affordable. It gives West End/Broadway quality without the prices you’d usually associate with that.

It’s a fun family night out – as I found – but would be equally enjoyable for individuals, couples or adult groups.

Give it a try… you can’t go wrong!

• Thespians plays at the Mercury Theatre in Colchester until 23 May, before touring to Bath, Swindon, Guildford, Cheltenham, Cardiff and Manchester. Find out more and purchase tickets here.

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There’s a new show in town and tickets are selling fast! Time to get your skates on if you don’t want to miss out on the musical Cable Street. 

On Sunday 4 October 1936 cries of “They shall not pass” rang out across the Jewish heart of London’s East End as over 100,000 Jews, Communists, Irish dockers and trade unionists blocked the march of Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists intended to intimidate the Jews. 

Now those chants of “They Shall Not Pass” are calling out once more… this time from the stage of a theatre, which tells the story of The Battle of Cable Street, through the lives of three young people, growing up against a background of rising tensions in the East End.

The show’s first outing in February opened to five star rave reviews and this second run, opening 6 September 2024, promises further accolades and a West End run beckons.

The Essex Jewish News caught up with lead actor 25-year-old Joshua Ginsberg – who revealed a remarkable co-incidence linking the character he plays with his great grandfather, who in real life was one of the Jewish anti-fascists who won the day against Mosley and his Black Shirts.

You can read the full story about actor Joshua Ginsberg, his great grandfather and Cable Street in the next issue of Essex Jewish News, available for Rosh Hashanah.

Cable Street runs from 6 September to 10 October at the Southwark Playhouse. Click here to book.

Suggested age: 13+
Price: £45/£35/£25 plus concessions

Evening Shows: 7.45pm
Matinees: Thursdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm (extra matinees have now been added for Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 October)

On the 88th anniversary of Cable Street – Friday 4 October – there will be a discussion prior to the performance to include Professor Nadia Valman, co-editor of the book Remembering Cable Street: Fascism and Anti-fascism in British Society.

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The group is named MeshuganOs.

It has been formed by longstanding Leyton Orient fans and season ticket holders Jonathan Glass and Eddie Gershon, together with Daniel Gold and Steven Phillips.

MeshuganOs is a way to celebrate the longstanding relationship between the Jewish community and Leyton Orient and for people to make new friends at the club.

Leyton Orient kit man Ada Martin ( a former JFS pupil)  and former players Mark Lazarus and Bobby Fisher have agreed to be patrons of the group.

Ada said: “ I am proud to be named as a patron of MeshuganOs.

“Like my fellow Jewish supporters, I love Leyton Orient and am proud of its connections with the Jewish community.

“I look forward to the success of the group.”

Eddie Gershon added: “ If you ask football fans which club is most associated with its Jewish supporters, the answer will likely be Spurs.

“While it is true that Spurs has always been the favoured club for a large number of Jewish fans, we believe  that Leyton Orient runs it pretty close, and as a percentage of its overall support, the O’s might well be one of the, if not the best-supported club amongst the Jewish community in England.

“The club’s association with the Jewish community goes back decades.

“When Orient were Clapton Orient and played at Millfields, large swathes of the Jewish community resided in Hackney, Stamford Hill and Stoke Newington as well as the East End.

“These locations were a couple of miles (in the case of Hackney, Stamford Hill and Stoke Newington) away from the ground, with the East End (places like Whitechapel) less than four miles away.

“As a result the O’s were the local club for tens of thousands of Jewish people and many of them chose to support the team.

“That support passed on through the families and it is fair to say that the movement of the Jewish community in the 1950s onwards to areas including Gants Hill, Redbridge, Barkingside and Newbury Park only buoyed that support.”

Jonathan Glass commented: “The O’s have also had a number of Jewish players including Mark Lazarus, Dave Metchick, Bobby Fisher, Barry Silkman and Scott Kashket, who between them played almost 650 games for the O’s.

“And two of the club’s most high profile chairmen,  Harry Zussman and Brian Winston were also Jewish.

“One thing I am very proud of (and I am sure it is the same for my fellow Jewish supporters) is that in all of the years of coming to Brisbane Road, I have never experienced any antisemitism.”

Leyton Orient chief executive Mark Devlin added : “ We are proud to have launched our official Jewish Supporters’ Group.

“We have great Jewish heritage at Leyton Orient, both as a football club and within our local area and that is something that we are keen to celebrate and are very proud of.

“Our Jewish supporters are very important to us and I would encourage all Leyton Orient fans to get in contact with the group as I know they have some exciting plans for the future.

“I am looking forward to the success of the MeshuganOs”

For more information on the group, please send an email tomeshuganOs@gmail.com.

There is also a Facebook page under the name of the group.

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The two organisations first came together 11 years ago to create a single mental health service for the Jewish community. Due to its success, The Board of Trustees of both organisations, felt that now was the right time to fully integrate their services.

Whilst the integration brings the two organisations together, Jewish Care’s CEO Daniel Carmel-Brown has stated that it would continue using the Jami brand which has “built up a fantastic reputation in the community over three decades.”

He added: “Keeping the Jami name is a strong part of who they are and what the community relates to. This is an exciting opportunity for both organisations and comes at a time when mental health and its prevalence continues to grow each year. Coming together means that we can ensure Jami’s services are sustainable for generations to come.”

Jewish Care are also committed to ensuring that Jami’s services remain unaffected by the integration and intends to transfer its 92 members of staff to the employment of Jewish Care, whilst also keeping every single one of its 280 volunteers. 

The statement also declared that Chief Executive of Jami, Laurie Rackind, will be stepping down from his role after 17 years of leading the charity, but would remain closely involved with the transition towards full integration of Jami services into Jewish Care over the coming months. In his time at the organisation, Laurie has transformed Jami into a leading mental health provider within the Jewish community and a recognised provider of pioneering service delivery models in the wider mental health and social care sectors.

He commented that it had been “an honour and a privilege to have led Jami for the last 17 years, and I feel proud of the progress that has been made during my time here. Jami has transformed the way mental health services are delivered”.

Laurie also praised initiatives such as Head Room café in Golders Green, for allowing Jami to “deliver support on the high street while tackling the issues of stigma, changing the way the Jewish and local community think about mental illness and distress”.

“The lone figure on the street that was once treated with disdain is now the person sitting in our café being supported with respect. None of this progress would have been possible without the support from the Jami Board of Trustees, my colleagues, Jewish Care, Jami’s supporters and volunteers, and the wider community”.

Jami Chairman, Adam Dawson, also paid tribute to Laurie’s work over the past 17 years in transforming the way mental health services are delivered, which have benefitted many thousands of lives, adding: “We owe a great debt of gratitude to Laurie; his contribution to Jami and our community has been enormous.”

Regarding the integration, Adam mentioned it was “a natural development given how closely Jami and Jewish Care have worked over the last decade. It will expand our knowledge, expertise, and resources to enable Jami to continue providing hope and help to everyone living with mental illness and distress in the community”.

Jonathan Zenios, Jewish Care Chair, commented that the merger was “an excellent and exciting development, a reflection of both organisations’ commitment to continue investing in mental health services, and a natural progression for both charities to offer the very best mental health resources for our community.”

He added that “we can now look forward to build on the services already provided and ensure the community’s needs are met in the most efficient and effective way.”

Both organisations agree the merger will bring many opportunities for both Jami, Jewish Care, and the whole community, including better use of community resources. Above all, according to the trustees, the merger will ensure “that the needs of the community continue to be met effectively, and the future of Jami’s vital mental health services are sustainable and secured for the future.”

For the Essex community, all services will continue as before including the Jami hub in Redbridge which provides in-person and online activities and support to increase social connection.  

To find out more about any of Jami’s vital services, please call 020 8458 2223, email info@jamiuk.org or visit jamiuk.org

The post When Two Become One appeared first on Essex Jewish News.

The 25-year-old who grew up in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, but now lives in Hampstead, will be scaling Snowdon in Wales with her friend, Jenny Harrold for charity. The pair are hoping to raise at least £2,740 for Brain Tumour Research, the amount needed to sponsor a day of research into a cure at one of the four Centres of Excellence located at universities around the country.

Liorah was inspired to climb the 1,085m-high mountain by her father’s love of nature and walking and Michael had even talked about relocating to Llandudno, which is close to Snowdon, before he became ill. Michael was diagnosed with aggressive glioblastoma (GBM) brain tumour in the summer of 2021 after he started forgetting words and his mouth began to droop. Despite undergoing surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, he died seven months later at the age of 68.

According to statistics from Brain Tumour Research, 16,000 people a year are diagnosed with a brain tumour in the UK and just 12 per cent of those survive beyond five years, compared with an average of 54 per cent across all cancers.

Losing her father was very difficult for Liorah as they were extremely close. Michael single-handedly raised her after her mother left when she was one and according to Liorah, they did  ‘absolutely everything together. The love we had for each other was unmatched.’

She added: “My dad was such a healthy man, but it still happened to him. I would love to help the charity find a cure.”

To donate to Liorah and Jenny’s fundraising target for their climb on July 29, visit: www.justgiving.com/page/liorah-and-jenny-snowdon-trek-2023.

The post Snowdon charity climb appeared first on Essex Jewish News.

The report is a testament to the School as an outstanding Jewish school. It showcases the school’s commitment to an outstanding and inclusive Jewish education for all children. The observations conducted on the team over the inspection highlighted their remarkable dedication, while integrated Jewish lessons were commended for their exceptional quality. The report unequivocally acknowledges the outstanding Jewish education provided at Clore Tikva School.

Clore Tikva is commitment to nurturing the personal and spiritual development of all students, through the tireless efforts of the caring staff in collaboration with parents, which has resulted in the exceptional outcomes which were highlighted by the Pikuach inspectors. The report attests to the collective success in achieving outstanding Jewish Personal and Spiritual Development.

Head Teacher Margot Buller said on receiving the report,” As an experienced headteacher with a 24-year tenure across various schools, I can confidently state that Clore Tikva is unlike any other educational institution I have had the privilege of leading. The incredible spirit of collaboration and support within our team and community is truly remarkable. We firmly believe that a school’s strength lies in the collective efforts of its members, including parents, staff, and students. Throughout the Pikuach inspection process, we ensured that everyone’s voice was heard and valued.

What particularly warmed my heart while perusing the report was the inspectors’ recognition and celebration of the school we know and love. Their observations aligned perfectly with our own perceptions of Clore Tikva, reaffirming our dedication to inclusivity and acknowledging it as a core value. As a headteacher, I firmly believe that Pikuach holds greater significance than OFSTED, as it captures the heart and soul of our school and defines Clore Tikva’s purpose.

On behalf of Clore Tikva School, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all those who have diligently worked amidst significant challenges over the past four years. This outstanding Pikuach report is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our entire school community, and we can all take immense pride in this remarkable achievement.”

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More than 55,000 volunteers in Essex and beyond will ‘repair the world’ this November, as the theme for the UK’s largest faith-led day of social action was announced. 

The details of Mitzvah Day 2023 were revealed at a launch event attended by faith and community leaders. 

Mitzvah Day Founder and Chair Laura Marks CBE (pictured above) told those gathered: “Tikkun olam, the Jewish value to repair the world, is integral to all faiths and belief systems. 

“That is why this year we aim to give our time, collectively, to address the human inflicted damage both on vulnerable people and on our precious fragile environment.” 

Mitzvah Day 2023 will take place on and around Sunday 19 November. It has become established as a key social action event in the faith calendar – with backing from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer and senior religious and civic leaders. 

Projects this year will be focussed on three key ways to repair the world: 

• Loneliness: Offering connection to people who are lonely through visits, calls and card-making. 

• Hunger: Collecting, cooking and sharing food to feed people who are hungry and vulnerable. 

• The Earth: Repairing the damage inflicted on our planet through planting and cleaning. 

The theme was warmly welcomed by Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, who said: “We cannot solve all of the world’s problems in one day, but every small step helps – and Mitzvah Day gives us all the chance to make the most of that opportunity. 

Rabbis Josh Levy and Charley Baginsky – the CEOs of Reform and Liberal Judaism – told how they were “delighted” to be supporting the launch. 

They added: “It is in the connections made on Mitzvah Day – connections within communities, between communities and between the Jewish world and other faiths – that we have a chance to make a real difference and repair our world.” 

Mitzvah Day CEO Stuart Diamond highlighted the many different charity partners teaming up with Mitzvah Day this year. 

He said: “I am delighted that so many charities and causes are supporting our theme including the Trussell Trust, Age UK, Jewish Care, Norwood, Felix and Eco Judaism. We look forward to many regular and brand new volunteers, co-ordinators and charity partners joining us this November in repairing the world.” 

The Mitzvah Day 2023 launch was held at the new BNJC – Brighton & Hove Jewish Community Centre. 

Guests included Councillor Mohammed Asaduzzaman – who made history by becoming Brighton & Hove’s first Muslim Deputy Mayor – and Councillor Julie Cattell, Rabbi Hershel and Rebetzen Perler Rader of Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation, Titular Archbishop of Selsey Jerome Lloyd, Revd Godfrey Kesari, Board of Deputies Vice President Amanda Bowman, BNJC CEO Mark Sugarman and Peter Wells from The Brighton and Hove Interfaith Contact Group. 

They were joined by representatives of the Church of England, Diocese of Suffolk, Archbishop of York’s Office, Sussex Jewish Representative Council, Brighton & Hove Reform Synagogue, Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue and the local Bahá’í community. 

To fit in with the theme, all those attending the launch brought toiletries for the Brighton Housing Trust, a local charity dedicated to combating homelessness, poverty and marginalisation. 

• To find out more about Mitzvah Day, please visit www.mitzvahday.org.uk.

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The exciting new development will be housed on the site of the current Redbridge Jewish Community Centre (RJCC), also known as Sinclair House.

It will comprise a community space which will house a centre for people living with dementia and a 66-bed care home, which the Jewish Care’s Vi & John Rubens House in Gants Hill will relocate to. The site will also house Jewish Care’s social work team, as well as providing areas for wider communal use.

After first sharing plans for this development with the community earlier this year, including on the front page of this newspaper, Jewish Care say they were thrilled with the level of support and enthusiasm they received.

After submitting the planning permission application, the charity then asked supporters and residents in the area to send in a letter of support for the development to the council.

Jewish Care chief executive Daniel Carmel-Brown told us: “We are delighted to have reached this stage and to have submitted a planning application. We know that from consultations with the community, our plans for this development have received wide support.

“We’re so grateful to those living in the Redbridge area for submitting letters of support to let the Council know just how much this new development is needed and would be valued by the community.”

• You can still view Jewish Care’s plans for the development by visiting www.jewishcare.org/news/redbridge-plans.

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Performing a mix of good deeds – from entertaining at care homes to collecting for those in need – the young people were among 30,000 volunteers all over the UK taking part in the country’s biggest faith-based day of social action.

Laura Marks OBE said: “I started Mitzvah Day when my own children were three, five and seven and I could sense straight away how they, and all their friends taking part, just ‘got it’ and understood how they were making a difference.

“Now, years later, I continue to be passionate about the ability of young people to give their time meaningfully from a very young age.

“The stories I’ve heard about all the wonderful things Essex children and young people did this Mitzvah Day confirm that nothing has changed.”

Redbridge’s two Jewish primary schools put on a number of projects to tie in the with the day’s theme of Winter Warmers – aimed to bring comfort, warmth and cheer to friends and neighbours.

Children from Clore Tikva Primary School visited Jewish Care’s Redbridge Jewish Community Centre (RJCC) to entertain and chat with the older members at a special intergenerational event.

The pupils and older people swapped mitzvah trees. Each leaf contains a motivational, heart-warming quote which will be taken down and read to the children during their Kabbalat Shabbat assembly, while RJCC members will do the same at the centre.

Clore Tikva Jewish studies teacher Samantha Bendon said, “This is such a wonderful project and we hope this Mitzvah Day will mark the beginning of a very special relationship between the children of Clore Tikva and the members of the RJCC.”

RJCC coordinator Timea Kasza added: “This project will continue to warm the hearts of our older members and of the young school children when they read out the positive messages and think of each other. Jewish Care’s community centres are keeping people warm this winter, not just physically, but by connecting older people with each other and with the community too.”

Wohl Ilford Jewish Primary School students and their families donated toys and books to Camp Simcha for children in hospital and wrote them get well cards. There was also a collection for Good for You, which distributes items to vulnerable people both in the UK and abroad.

Pupils were allowed to wear green instead of their school uniform for the day and the school was delighted to welcome the CEO of Camp Simcha, Neville Goldschneider, who spoke about the charity’s work.

Cheders in the area also got involved. The children at East London & Essex Liberal Synagogue collected toys and games for Haven House Children’s Hospice, while the adults donated dry in date food items and toiletries for Jason Lee House’s Single Homeless Project. Jason Lee House in Ilford provides temporary, and in some cases longer term, accommodation for homeless people.

Southend Reform Synagogue’s young people made get well cards for friends that are unwell, while the entire congregation collected for both HARP, a local homeless charity, and a nearby food bank.

Other projects included Ilford Federation Synagogue collecting food for GIFT and painting furniture at Jewish Care’s Vi and John Rubens House, and JBD tenants donating books to Langdon’s New Chapters.

Meanwhile SWESRS used Mitzvah Day to relaunch their food bank drives. Over the course of the day, members brought shopping bags to support the local Trussell Trust. Rabbi Lev Taylor said: “Our ambition was to fill a box. We filled seven!”

Back at the RJCC, member and volunteer Nettie Keene and her Knit and Natter with Nettie group – which includes RJCC members Rita Shaw, Sonia Black and Sadie Levy – made blankets which they sent to residents at Jewish Care’s Vi & John Rubens House care home.

Mitzvah Day has the support of all of Britain’s political and faith leaders. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Mitzvah Day is a very special time of year. It helps to foster a wonderful community spirt, celebrating diversity of faith or belief, and demonstrating that we each have a responsibility to one another.”

Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, is a long-term Mitzvah Day supporter and took part once more this year, joining South Hampstead Synagogue to collect and pack clothes for people in need supported by local charities. He said: “Mitzvah Day is emblematic of the country we are, and the values we hold.”

Reflecting on the theme of Winter Warmers and the efforts of all those across Essex, Mitzvah Day CEO Stuart Diamond said: “It was very powerful to see so many communities came together with friends and neighbours of all ages, faiths and backgrounds to ensure that all the elements of warmth were taken care of this Mitzvah Day – from clothing and cooking to visits that bring cheer.”

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