Jaffa Theatre: "Shampoo Queen"

German premiere of Israel’s most controversial play in a new rendition by Jaffa Theatre! This biting satire, a perennial commentary on Israel, now undergoes a transformative shift with a crucial distinction—the voices of Arab actors.

In 1970, Hanoch Levin premiered ‘Shampoo Queen: A Satirical Review in Two Parts – A Brotherhood Shadowed by Military Threat’ at Tel-Aviv’s Cameri Theatre, amid the aftermath of the six-day war. As euphoria swirled over Israel’s swift victory, the play, devoid of subtlety, provocatively depicted the Jewish population as zealous and callous, critiquing a nation seemingly bound for cyclic violence. Despite swift cancellation due to unprecedented criticism, the play achieved mythological status, its relevance persisting shockingly after half a century.

Fast forward to 2023, ‘`Shampoo Queen’ continues its mission. The rendition preserves original songs and sketches in a minimalistic stage design but diverges from the original by emphasizing Palestinian identity. This inner Jewish critique, unraveling Zionist narratives and exposing Israel’s aggression, racism, and disregard for its Arab population, finds new resonance through an all-Arab cast. The performance reanimates silenced perspectives, offering a fresh lens on a narrative as relevant today as it was 50 years ago.