'Sarah: Text and Presence' offers a 21st-century reimagining of traditional Jewish texts

“Sarah: Text and Presence,” a new experimental and interactive theatrical event, is a collaboration between Theatre Company Jerusalem (TCJ) and Theater and Theology, directed by Gabriella Lev and Yael Valier. Billed as a “performative beit midrash,” it interweaves live music, biblical and midrashic texts, contemporary writing, monologues, and haiku poetry with special light design. Lev states that the production aims to explore theater's role in challenging times, emphasizing its reliance on “presence. Deep human contact is becoming increasingly rare.” Valier highlights the interactive nature of Jewish learning, bringing text into dialogue with actors and the audience. The production builds on TCJ's Hebrew play “Sara Take 2,” fundamentally renewing its exploration of the woman's voice in ancient texts and placing Sarah within the context of the hagim. Valier hopes it will expand text learning through theater, while Lev is excited by the “unplugged” nature and the meeting of ancient material with the present moment, especially in the context of recent societal ruptures.