About the Oranges - a show from Israel about a suicide bombing

This hard-hitting controversial disturbing and intensely moving show has taken the world by storm. From month-long runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, to guest appearances as far afield as San Francisco's Traveling Jewish Theatre, TheaterJ in Washington DC, Vancouver's Chutzpah Festival (Festival Highlight: "actor/playwright Robbie Gringras performed his moving and unforgettable solo show to standing ovations"), Acco Theatre in Israel, and community performances in Melbourne Australia. No one is left untouched.

Now performing in its Hebrew translation - BeNoge'a Le'Tapuzim!

Click on this link for video excerpts of the English language performance:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3249207564309201419&hl=en

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About The Oranges

written and performed by Robbie Gringras

developed and directed by Peta Lily

Our hero walks on stage and falteringly begins his job interview. He is keen to be accepted as aliya shaliach - a job persuading Jews to emigrate to Israel. He believes he has the ideal credentials: he is in love with Israel and he has a great sense of humour. But he is late. Very late. Thirty five days late. At the same time as persuading the panel why he would be ideal for the job, he must also explain why he is so late

As our hero begins the interview, he also betrays signs of a terrible breakdown. Always talking of the romance of Israel, it is clear he is nursing a terrible wound. We gradually come to understand that our hero has been deeply and dreadfully involved in a suicide bombing. Throughout the 'interview' he attempts to make sense of the events that led a Palestinian baker to suicide terror, a man to try to save a murderer, and a father to lose a daughter. Tragically, excruciatingly, in a desperate attempt to gain perspective and escape his daily nightmares, our hero tries - and fails - to make us laugh. "The funny side is the outside," he quips, daring to hope.

About The Oranges is a courageous, disturbing, moving, honest, and occasionally hilarious look at 'the situation' in Israel. Writer Robbie Gringras has created a tragedy that often moves an audience to tears - not only through the raw unpeeling of the trauma of terror, but also at the pain of a man struggling to hold  on to his beautiful yet bloodied dream.

Technical requirements

 Essential:

• A flat bare stage 3.5m (11') wide x 3m (9') deep [absolute minimum]
• The stage must be raised, or the audience must be raked.
• Strong general wash of white light on the stage: darkness in audience
• One plain chair
• Back wall for hanging banner (I provide the banner, chains, and clips)
• Access to venue 2 hours before curtain up
• Technical operator

Full page article in The Guardian