Who Like Me
A new Israeli play tells the story of five teenagers in a psychiatric clinic who jointly create a stage production about mental health. Directed by Ilai Samal, the show explores the everyday lives of patients, medical staff, and their families, emphasizing the healing power of theater. Critics have praised the sensitive performance of the young ensemble, making the production an important discussion of empathy for the general public.
A new Israeli play tells the story of five teenagers in a psychiatric clinic who jointly create a stage production about mental health. Directed by Ilai Samal, the show explores the everyday lives of patients, medical staff, and their families, emphasizing the healing power of theater. Critics have praised the sensitive performance of the young ensemble, making the production an important discussion of empathy for the general public.
Who Like Me
New Israeli Play
Written by: Roi Chen
Directed by: Ilai Samel
Set and Costumes: Polina Adamov
Music: Roni Reshef
Lighting: Eliyahu Sarabiyevski
Sound: Felix Shposhnik
Cast: Gal'ad Kalter, Uri Yaniv, Karin Saroya, Tom Antopolski, Neta Rot, Ruth Sandrovitz, Solo Gava, Sophia Golan, Noam Prank
Piano: Adam Chen
Cello: Alma Bar Sinai
Five teenagers are hospitalized in the psychiatric department at "Orot" Mental Health Center. They sleep together, eat together, and create a performance together. About the soul, of course.
"Who Like Me" offers a glimpse into the closed ward, into the lives of the medical staff, the teenagers, and their parents. But it is also the story of all of us, because these children, coming from every sector and every socioeconomic class, are our children. They are us, just at a different volume.
"Who Like Me" is intended for anyone who has a soul within them. It deals with the healing power of theater in hope of raising the level of compassion that is always at risk of declining.
The play "Who Like Me" was created following visits to "Shaf" school and "Abarbanel" Mental Health Medical Center, but any connection between the characters and events in the play and reality is purely coincidental.
Late entry will not be permitted once the performance begins.
PRESS REVIEWS:
"A moving, fascinating and emotional performance. The five young actors deliver remarkably raw and precise performances. 5 stars" — Yedioth Ahronoth
"A touching and stirring creation, with painful and heartbreaking moments alongside comic respites" — The Economist
"A play that delivers quite a few good theatrical moments and successfully touches sensitively on important issues affecting teenagers' wellbeing" — Walla!
"An interesting, touching and very relevant performance that touches the soul and sometimes shakes it" — Yarmi Amir, Kan B'
"The level of acting left me speechless" — Radio B'li Hafsakot
"The actors do sensitive and successful work and they and director Ilai Samel deserve praise for it" — Makor Rishon
"Worth watching because of the importance of the subject, the quality of the acting, and the meaningful, even if painful, insights that emerge from it" — Globes
"The young actors' performance is authentic and touching" — Mutkaa
"A very beautiful, aesthetic, amazingly designed and clever performance. The young actors are convincing and heartbreaking" — Kan Tarbut
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