Simple Actions

An Israeli Family Drama

What is an Israeli family?
What actions define it – Kiddush, watching the news, humor, cooking, trivia quizzes? 
The play Simple Actions offers a glimpse into the home of one Israeli family, with its small joys and sorrows alike, over the course of three touching and humorous Friday night dinners. 
Nine characters exchange cake recipes, jabs, and jokes – while between the lines, the drama of life in Israel in 2023 gradually unfolds. 
The play is written by Yotam Gotal, the young and newly appointed resident playwright and dramaturg of Habima Theatre, and directed by the intriguing Ariel N. Wolf.
Together, they present a bold, raw, funny, and youthful production.
 A play that explores whether, in turbulent times, the family remains the one anchor we can still hold on to.

Upcoming Performances

11.06 20:00 Thursday Buy
12.06 11:00 Friday Buy
13.06 18:00 Saturday Buy

13.07 20:00 Monday Buy
14.07 20:00 Tuesday Buy
15.07 20:00 Wednesday Buy
16.07 20:00 Thursday Buy
17.08 20:00 Monday Buy
19.08 20:00 Wednesday Buy

Reviews

Yuval Erel’s Blog:

"Playwright Yotam Gotal and director Ariel N. Wolf create a very familiar Israeli world. Three Friday-night dinners weave the plot into a dense and precise emotional sequence. The large ensemble gives a vivid sense of a living Israeli home. The audience is not merely watching the story of one family, but recognizing an entire Israeli identity reflected before them. The play asks what remains of the Israeli family when the reality outside begins to fall apart, and whether the home is still capable of protecting those who live within it… people who sit around the Sabbath table and try to believe that everything can still remain as it once was."

Haaretz:

"An original and refreshing attempt to create a different kind of Israeli drama. “Simple Actions” stands out by focusing on small human gestures rather than loud conflicts, and by taking an empathetic approach toward opposing political views. Playwright Yotam Gotal delivers a clear message: all opinions are legitimate. The actors fully committed to their roles, succeed in moving the audience, and gradually draw viewers into the family’s world."

Martha Knows Magazine:

" The interplay of laughter and tears casts a spotlight on a complex Israeli reality that remains far from resolution. This is precisely what makes a work of art like this so significant and worthy of high praise, thanks to its remarkable achievements in writing, direction, and performance. The production is further enriched by Noa Etgar’s set design, which creates a warm and inviting domestic space; Yehudit Aharon’s meticulously crafted costumes; Itamar Gross’s compelling original score; and the precise lighting design by Hani Vardi and Yair Salman. The final act ends on October 6, 2023. While the characters remain unaware of what is about to unfold, the audience knows all too well what is to come. The dramaturgical choice to conclude the play at this moment, without depicting the events of October 7 on stage, imbues the work with profound layers of meaning and heartbreak. It allows the audience to witness the characters’ lives in the fleeting moments before their world is irrevocably shattered."