The Jerusalem Khan Theatre
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Jerusalem Khan Theatre (תיאטרון החאן – Teat'ron HaKhan, lit. "The Caravanserai Theatre") is a
repertory theatre A repertory theatre is a theatre in which a resident company presents works from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation or rotation. United Kingdom Annie Horniman founded the first modern repertory theatre in Manchester after withdrawing ...
based in
Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
. The theatre is located near the Jerusalem Railway Station, in an old
caravanserai A caravanserai (or caravansary; ) was a roadside inn where travelers ( caravaners) could rest and recover from the day's journey. Caravanserais supported the flow of commerce, information and people across the network of trade routes covering ...
building.


History

The khan was built on the ruins of an ancient inn from the Crusader period. It served caravan travelers who arrived in Jerusalem after nightfall when the gates of the
Old City Old City often refers to old town, the historic or original core of a city or town. Old City may refer to several places: Historical cities or regions of cities ''(by country)'' *Old City (Baku), Azerbaijan * Old City (Dhaka), Bangladesh, also ca ...
were locked. In later years, the building housed a beer-cellar and a carpentry workshop. The Jerusalem Khan Theatre opened its doors in October 1967 at the initiative of then Mayor of Jerusalem,
Teddy Kollek Theodor "Teddy" Kollek ( he, טדי קולק; 27 May 1911 – 2 January 2007) was an Israeli politician who served as the mayor of Jerusalem from 1965 to 1993, and founder of the Jerusalem Foundation. Kollek was re-elected five times, in 1969, 197 ...
, who secured money from the Gestetner Family Fund to restore the crumbling building. The picturesque arches and courtyards were preserved, while 230 seats and a modern sound and light system were installed.Israeli theater hits its stride
/ref> The artistic director of the English theatre was Jacqueline Kronberg and the artistic director of the Hebrew theatre was Phillip Diskin. A year later, the theater company disbanded and the building became a venue for local cultural events. In early 1973 a new theatre company was established. Over the years, Michael Alfreds, Ilan Ronen, Ada Ben Nahum, Yossi Izraeli, Amit Gazit, Eran Niall,
Ofira Henig Ofira Henig (born March 1960) is an Israeli theater director. She has served as the artistic director of Jerusalem's Jerusalem Khan Theatre, Khan Theatre, the Israel Festival, The Laboratory in Jerusalem, and the Herzliya Theater Ensemble. Biogra ...
and Michael Gurevich have served as artistic directors. The current artistic director is the theatre actor and director Udi Ben-Moshe. The theatre produces 4-5 new shows annually. The former artistic director, Michael Gurevich, wrote and directed some of the plays. Prominent productions included: "A passing shadow" (2000), "War on Home" (2002), "
The Miser ''The Miser'' (french: L'Avare; ; also known by the longer name ''L'Avare ou L'École du Mensonge,'' meaning The Miser, or the School for Lies) is a five-act comedy in prose by the French playwright Molière. It was first performed on September 9 ...
" (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 The Jerusalem Theatre ( he, תיאטרון ירושלים, The Jerusalem Centre for the Performing Arts) is a centre for the performing arts in Jerusalem. The theatre opened in 1971. The complex consists of the Sherover Theatre, which seats 9 ...
complex. The Khan Theatre is a
non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
. The theatre's executive committee consists of public figures and representatives of organizations that support it financially - the Jerusalem Municipality, the
Jerusalem Foundation The Jerusalem Foundation ( he, הקרן לירושלים, ''HaKeren LiYerushalayim''; ar, مؤسسة صندوق القدس) is a nonprofit foundation that promotes the development of the city of Jerusalem, by raising funds for social, cultural a ...
and the Ministry of Culture and Sport . 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.


References


External links


The Khan Theatre website
{{authority control Theatres in Jerusalem Theatre companies in Israel Culture of Jerusalem Tourist attractions in Jerusalem Theatres completed in 1967 Organizations based in Jerusalem