Tue Feb 11th, 2025

Shelanu Children’s Theatre

January 10, 2025

Celebrate 30 years of activity with the festive premiere of Kipnis’s “Narcissus King of the Swamp,” dramatized and directed by Ronan Goldfarb. Original music by maestro Gil Shohat.

By Chiquita Levov

“Shelanu” is a repertory theatre for children that recently celebrated its 30th anniversary by presenting the musical in a festive premiere “Narkis Melech dwells”, a play based on the well-known book by Levin Kipnis. It tells the story of a “frog king” who falls ill and only a flower can cure him. The adaptation of the colorful musical, dramatized and directed by Ronen Goldfarb, who is also the artistic director and founder of the Shelanu Theater (Our Theater). The music was composed by the famous maestro Gil Shohat, who has a magnificent track record of 30 years of worldwide success. “Our Theater”, founded in 1994, has a rich repertoire for children. It offers a varied artistic program of plays and shows, which address social issues and promote tolerance, equality, mutual respect and acceptance of difference. Over the years, the theater has created collaborations with top creators, including: Koby Oz, Betty Pablo, Yehudit Ravitz, Rami Klainstein, Moshe Datz, Samdar Shir, Rita, Ephraim Sidon, Ehud Manor, Ofra Fox and many more. Some of them were at the premiere. The works in the repertoire are presented on various dates and in locations throughout the country. More information: https://shelanu-kids.com/

Ronen Goldfarb and Betty Pablo

On this occasion, the collaboration with the maestro is particularly highlighted. Gil ShohatGil Shohat, who has a magnificent track record of 30 years of activity and has performed more than 3500 concerts around the world, is one of the most prominent in Israel's musical scene. He has written 250 commissioned and performed works, including 9 symphonies, 15 concertos and 3 operas, and produced hundreds of original shows combining pop, jazz and world music. His music captivates an audience of more than 20.000 subscribers and around half a million views each year. All of this places Gil Shohat at the top of musical activity in Israel and one of the most prominent and prolific voices in the music world in general. Shohat arrived at the celebration accompanied by his mother, the prominent journalist Tzipi.

Gil and Tzipi Shohat

About the new musical: The well-known children's tale takes place in the swamp where the kind and beloved king, the frog king of the swamp, lived, “Sephardicon I”. One day he fell ill, the best doctors examined him and came to the conclusion that only if the king smelled the fragrance of a flower would he be cured immediately. A delegation of frogs sets out on a quest to find a flower that will agree to go to the swamp to cure the king. And only the daffodil accepts the invitation with great success. Godfarb rightly considers that “This is a touching show about friendship, helping others, free love, perseverance and success.” Orchestration and musical arrangements by Eldad Yaron, costumes by Ella Kolesnik, choreography by Or Meshiah, set design: Batia Segal and Michael Pick. 

Koby Oz and son

Ronen Goldfarb is well known and appreciated by children and parents alike, who have followed him on the television show “Tell Me a Story.” He has also created many award-winning plays in the categories “Play of the Year,” “Director of the Year,” and also as a costume designer. This theater and its director have won numerous awards and have represented Israel at international festivals abroad. In short, he has put together a repertoire of numerous children’s plays for his theater, many of which have been performed more than 2000 times throughout the country. Among the theater productions created for the Shelanu Theater, in addition to the new musical, the following stand out as part of its repertoire and are still on the bill:

 "Aya, Ouch and Awa” Adapted by Goldfarb from a book by Rinat Primo, it is a very successful musical piece that has won many awards and is related to social or community medicine. Ronen tells us that “in a secret place not far from here lives a family of characters: mother Awa and her children Aya and Auch (interjections that express pain). It is a very special family that is dedicated to healing wounds. Anyone who is hurt can say their names and these creatures, with magic wands, heal the pain. Liat Perlov is in charge of the musical part. Yuval Peled Pinto designed the scenery and the costumes are by Maor Tzavar, a very original creator with great imagination. 

"“Saper li Sipur” is a musical play with lots of humor and several surprises, based on a highly successful television program produced by the Shelanu Theater. The successful program is the basis for several other productions. In an enchanted forest where all kinds of cute little animals live, a new storybook is presented every day of the week, and its content is narrated by Ronen. One day the book does not appear and Ronen is sent to the world of the stories to help three characters find the end of the story. With puppets, and several actors who impersonate the little animals. 

 

The Kitten

"“Bentzi” is a musical based on the book “Elmer” by David Macaco. The original music is by singer-songwriter Yehudit Ravitz. It tells the story of an elephant who was born colored and is different from his “normal” friends who are gray. Everyone laughs at the colorful elephant and he becomes a sad animal for being different. One day, a special event makes him realize that being different also means being special.  “The house of the kitten La La” is a story written by Ronan Godfarb, directed by actor David Bilenka, with original music by Iosi Ben Nun. Based on a Russian folklore legend, it is the story of a special and noble cat, very narcissistic, who when she becomes rich forgets about her friends when they need her. And when her home catches fire she is left homeless and turns to them.

 “The King's New Clothes”” based on the classic tale “The Naked King” by Christensen Andersen.  “The mouse who didn't want to be a mouse”” based on the story by Ehud Manor (ZAL) directed by Ofra Fux widow of Manor. A musical that tells precisely the story of a little mouse who denies his own identity, and comes with a moral. “Dira Leaskir” (Apartment for Rent) based on the famous book by Lea Goldberg, which Ronen adapted to a nice musical style, together with producer Yuval Pinto and musical director Liat Perlov. Liat is also the creator of the music for "Zehava and the three bears”, based on the famous story.

https://shelanu-kids.com

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