Jerusalem Khan Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Jerusalem Khan Theatre is the only repertoire producing theatre
in Jerusalem. The theatre is located near the Jerusalem Railway Station
, in an old caravanserai
building.
.
The first artistic director was Phillip Diskin; but a year later, the theater company disbanded and the building was used for different cultural events such theater and concerts. In early 1973 a new theatre company was established. LAter artistic managers included: Michael Alfrds, Ilan Ronen, Ada Ben Nahum, Yossi Izraeli, Amit Gazit, Eran Niall and Ofira Hoenig.
" (2003), "Happiness" (2004), "Life Is a Dream (2005). Over all, the theater has about 200 performances a year in house and about 70 in other halls, mainly in the Mann Auditorium in the Jerusalem Theater
complex.
The Khan Theatre is a non-profit organization
. The theatre's executive committee consists of public figures and representatives of organizations that support it financially - the Jerusalem Municipality, the Jerusalem Foundation
and the Ministry of Culture and Sportץ
.
In 1998-2001 the Khan Theater hosted the International Festival of Chamber Music.
The Khan compound includes two halls - the main hall with 238 seats, where most of the major productions of theater are shown, and a second hall with 70 seats used for concerts and meetings.
period as a factory for producing silk. Later it was converted to a hostel used as a nightly stopping point of pilgrim convoys, providing protection against attacks by robbers that were common in the area.
The hostel served mainly Christian pilgrims on their way from Jerusalem to the Church of the Nativity
in Bethlehem
, and Hebron
, but also Jewish pilgrims on their way from Jerusalem to Rachel's Tomb
in Bethlehem and the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron. Additionally, it served convoys, which arrived in Jerusalem after dark once the gates of the old city of Jerusalem were shut, which usually happened each evening at sunset, and opened the next day after sunrise.
Repertory
Repertory or rep, also called stock in the United States, is a term used in Western theatre and opera.A repertory theatre can be a theatre in which a resident company presents works from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation or rotation...
in Jerusalem. The theatre is located near the Jerusalem Railway Station
Jerusalem Railway Station
The Jerusalem Railway Station is a former railway station located in the area between Hebron Road and Bethlehem Road, near the German Colony of Jerusalem, Israel. It was part of the Jaffa–Jerusalem railway until its closure in 1998...
, in an old caravanserai
Caravanserai
A caravanserai, or khan, also known as caravansary, caravansera, or caravansara in English was a roadside inn where travelers could rest and recover from the day's journey...
building.
History
The Khan Theatre was opened on 26 October 1967, at the initiative of Mayor of Jerusalem, Teddy KollekTeddy Kollek
Theodor "Teddy" Kollek was mayor of Jerusalem from 1965 to 1993, and founder of the Jerusalem Foundation. Kollek was re-elected five times, in 1969, 1973, 1978, 1983 and 1989...
.
The first artistic director was Phillip Diskin; but a year later, the theater company disbanded and the building was used for different cultural events such theater and concerts. In early 1973 a new theatre company was established. LAter artistic managers included: Michael Alfrds, Ilan Ronen, Ada Ben Nahum, Yossi Izraeli, Amit Gazit, Eran Niall and Ofira Hoenig.
Productions
The theatre produces 3-4 new shows annually. The current artistic director is Michael Gurevich, who writes and directs some of the plays. In recent years its prominent productions included: "a passing shadow" (2000), "war on Home" (2002), "The MiserThe Miser
L'Avare is a 1668 five-act satirical comedy by French playwright Molière. Its title is usually translated as The Miser when the play is performed in English....
" (2003), "Happiness" (2004), "Life Is a Dream (2005). Over all, the theater has about 200 performances a year in house and about 70 in other halls, mainly in the Mann Auditorium in the Jerusalem Theater
Jerusalem Theater
The Jerusalem Theater is a center for the performing arts in Jerusalem, Israel. The theater opened in 1971. The complex consists of the Sherover Theatre, which seats 950, the Henry Crown Symphony Hall with 750 seats, the Rebecca Crown Auditorium, with 450 seats, and the Little Theater with 110...
complex.
The Khan Theatre is a non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
. The theatre's executive committee consists of public figures and representatives of organizations that support it financially - the Jerusalem Municipality, the Jerusalem Foundation
Jerusalem Foundation
The Jerusalem Foundation is an international non-profit organization whose goal is the improvement of the quality of life for all citizens of Jerusalem. It was founded in 1966 by the mayor of Jerusalem, Teddy Kollek. The foundation is politically not affiliated...
and the Ministry of Culture and Sportץ
Culture and Sport Minister of Israel
The Culture and Sport Minister of Israel is a new and relatively minor position in the Israeli cabinet. Previously culture and sport had been part of other ministerial portfolios; between 1949 and 1999, and again from 2003 until 2006, culture was part of the Education Minister portfolio. Similarly,...
.
In 1998-2001 the Khan Theater hosted the International Festival of Chamber Music.
The Khan compound includes two halls - the main hall with 238 seats, where most of the major productions of theater are shown, and a second hall with 70 seats used for concerts and meetings.
The Theatre building
The theatre building was constructed during the OttomanOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
period as a factory for producing silk. Later it was converted to a hostel used as a nightly stopping point of pilgrim convoys, providing protection against attacks by robbers that were common in the area.
The hostel served mainly Christian pilgrims on their way from Jerusalem to the Church of the Nativity
Church of the Nativity
The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world. The structure is built over the cave that tradition marks as the birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth, and thus it is considered sacred by Christians...
in Bethlehem
Bethlehem
Bethlehem is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank of the Jordan River, near Israel and approximately south of Jerusalem, with a population of about 30,000 people. It is the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate of the Palestinian National Authority and a hub of Palestinian culture and tourism...
, and Hebron
Hebron
Hebron , is located in the southern West Bank, south of Jerusalem. Nestled in the Judean Mountains, it lies 930 meters above sea level. It is the largest city in the West Bank and home to around 165,000 Palestinians, and over 500 Jewish settlers concentrated in and around the old quarter...
, but also Jewish pilgrims on their way from Jerusalem to Rachel's Tomb
Rachel's Tomb
Rachel's Tomb , also known as the Dome of Rachel, , is an ancient structure believed to be the burial place of the biblical matriarch Rachel. It is located on the outskirts of Bethlehem, a Palestinian city just south of Jerusalem, in the West Bank...
in Bethlehem and the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron. Additionally, it served convoys, which arrived in Jerusalem after dark once the gates of the old city of Jerusalem were shut, which usually happened each evening at sunset, and opened the next day after sunrise.