Entering the Maurice Tillkoff Hall on a dull and drizzly evening shortly after the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation, we were transported to pre-independence Israel in the company of Abraham Orbach Aviram.
Our hero is a strong-willed Palmach soldier who chooses to defy orders and finds himself facing expulsion from his battalion. To explain his reasons, he gives his commander such an emotional and heartfelt account of how he came to be a soldier that the officer has no choice but to listen to him.
Playing Abraham was Ben Zabludowski, a member of the Israeli Hasha’a Theater company. Ben gave a mesmerising performance not only as the soldier Abraham, crouching, firing imaginary rifles, hiding from shelling, but also as the child Abraham, as his own mother, his commander – and every other character that miraculously seemed to inhabit the stage.
Sentenced to Life tells the true story of Holocaust survivor Abraham Orbach, whose life exemplifies the spirit of endurance and hope. Abraham’s daughter was at the original auditions, and helped choose Ben, fresh from drama school, to create the role of Abraham. He now counts it as his own after nearly 100 performances, even performing it whenever he was home from IDF reserve duty during the October 7th War.
Although part of the Seventh Festival of Spoken Ivrit, Ben relearned his lines in English at the start of this run of sixteen performances at venues across the UK. This year’s Festival theme, Heroes, Heroines and Heroism, reflects the challenges of the past year and the heroic stories that have come to light, with the message too that bravery is not limited to the battlefield – everyone can be a hero or heroine through acts of kindness, understanding and support.
It was a privilege to have been in the audience for this show and the fascinating Q&A afterwards, marking the end of the tour. Acknowledged by all present as an amazing evening, as they said in my youth, ‘If you weren’t there, you’re square’.
Toda raba Hasha’a Theater!
By Edward Doff