Menorah Arts and Drama (MAD) has been producing theatre for 15 years, and while the theatre troupe belongs to Menorah Synagogue, a Progressive Jewish community in Cheshire, South Manchester, it prides itself on having players who span a spectrum of religious denominations.
“Over the years, we’ve had people come from all walks of life: people from different synagogues, including Orthodox synagogues. Non-Jewish people have also joined. It bridges different ages. We had one lad who was 12, and one lady in her seventies,” says Francine Mitchell, MAD’s producer.
“This is the second show I’ve produced. My purpose is to bridge the gap between Orthodox and Progressive, and do interfaith work, but also to have fun," Francine tells the JC. “People who audition do it for fun. They don’t want pressure or strict productions – they’re there to enjoy themselves.”
People might not necessarily come to a service at our shul, but they’ll come through the doors to see the play
The director of MAD’s latest production, Meir Vardi, who came to Menorah Synagogue with his wife, the shul’s rabbi, Kath Vardi, in 2024, says the experience has far outstripped any expectations. “I realised, within a very short time, that I have an amazing producer and group, who work at 120 percent. It’s a good community of people.”
MAD’s recent production of Agatha Christie’s Appointment with Death, in which Hercule Poirot investigates a murder in Jerusalem and Petra, boasted five sold-out performances.
The unprecedentedly large cast of 15 players and a 17-strong production team represent to Meir and Francine the capacity of theatre to transcend religious differences.
“When we put a show on, it brings other communities together to come to watch the play,” Francine says. “People might not necessarily come to a service at our shul, but they’ll come through the doors to see the play.”
Religion does not come up “at all” in the group, Francine notes. Events in Israel have been a more common subject, however. “Not in rehearsals, as we’re very focused on the show, but I’ve had a few conversations about it when we sit together outside,” says Meir, who is originally from the area surrounding Gaza. “These things are quite painful.”
Meir attributes his directing career to Rami Negbi, a musician and the heroic head of security at Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha, who, he says, was one of the first people to be murdered on October 7
Meir deems MAD his “comeback” after studying musical theatre in New York, completing an MA in acting in London, and directing for several years at the Light Opera Group of the Negev (LOGON), a large English-speaking musical company in Israel.
He attributes his directing career to Rami Negbi, a musician and the heroic head of security at Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha, who, Meir says, was one of the first people to be murdered on October 7, after confronting Hamas terrorists who had broken into his kibbutz.
“I was in a Negev theatre, in a periphery that is now famous for being the Gaza area. In one of the first shows I was involved with, I insisted there should be a musician. We found a lovely musician called Rami Negbi from nearby. He joined the theatre and later, my cabaret. Rami said to me: ‘Why don’t we direct a musical with the local college?’ That was my first musical and experience of directing shows.”
"That’s the person who got me into directing,” Meir adds. “It’s a sad story.”
MAD have booked their next performances for March 2027, floating ideas of a play with music or cabaret, and planning auditions around early autumn. Given the bustle of activity at the shul, the group books its slots a year in advance.
Appointment with Death has been MAD’s largest production yet. Francine attributes the influx of MAD members to word of mouth, after a couple actors from other shuls joined. “I think [MAD] has managed to gain a reputation over the last 15 years,” Meir adds. “The non-Jewish members usually come with their Jewish friends. My priority when directing is: ‘How can I include as many people as possible?’”
“It doesn’t have to always be about Judaism; it’s about theatre and drama and music,” Francine says. All very Jewish phenomenon, though, she agrees.
“I’m under no pressure from the company, but I myself would love to include a Jewish theme,” Meir says. The difficulty sometimes is in finding a play that suits the diverse range of actors at MAD – a challenge that simultaneously showcases the group’s uniqueness.
“The priority is to get people to come together, to have fun, to escape whatever is going on in the world,” Francine says. “It’s not a strict troupe. It has become a friendship group.”
To get more from community, click here to sign up for our free community newsletter.