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The Arab the Jew & the Chicken :
‘The Arab the Jew and the Chicken’ is our first comedy sketch show.
It was developed through a year long improvisational process that took us on a personal journey of confronting our preconceptions about each other and of each others’ cultures. The show comments on topics at the heart of the conflict: terror, freedom, mistrust, politics, religion and more.
First performed on 24 September 2007 at Redbridge Drama Centre London and subsequently at:
Canal Café Theatre, London October 2007
Rosemary Branch Theatre, London January 2008
Courtyard Theatre, London March 2008
Arcola Theatre, London July 2008
Edinburgh Festival Fringe, August 2008
Laguna Beach Festival, California October 2008
Liberal Judaism Conference, Berlin November 2008
Aberdeen University, March 2010
Dundee University, March 2010
St. Andrews University March 2010
Oxford University, March 2010
Courtyard Theatre, London, March 2010
Luxembourg International Comedy Festival for Peace, March 2010
REVIEWS:
THE STAGE
by Katie Jackson
It is an often stated fact that comedy requires great intelligence and skill despite its apparently goofy, veneer, but The Arab, The Jew and The Chicken is savvier than most sketch theatre. There are no down points in this cleverly constructed, wonderfully varied and brilliantly acted short sketch show which claims to be a fast and feisty exploration of the Middle East conflict. And there is a life size chicken thrown in for good measure too.
Conflict Relief takes its audience on a quick and irreverent exploration of the ludicrous hypothetical conflicts behind the conflict of a generation. The Gaza Strip may not be an ideal setting for light hearted comedy and farce, but Conflict Relief stares the tedium of insults and violence in the face and comes out victorious.
Ending with a utopic vision of peace and love, this talented band of artists know exactly how to handle an audience. Not so cocky that they would ask a small fringe audience to step out of their comfort zone and participate, they manage to get the crowd on side and involved without terrifying the life out of them.
It’s a pleasant journey through a laugh out loud comedy sketch show. Jana Zenadeen is to be particularly credited for her quick wit and comic timing, although this really is a production with no weak links.
This production doesn’t provide any answers, but it doesn’t ask any questions either. It is content to thoroughly entertain with its unique and quirky sense of humour. This is good theatre. This is great comedy.
THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
EDINBURGH REVIEWS BY LEE LEVITT
Finding comedy in Mid-East conflict
THE ARAB, THE JEW AND THE CHICKEN
C Central, Carlton Hotel
THIS SKETCH show rips along at a frenetic pace as it pokes fun at the craziness of the Middle East conflict – and the crazies who are part of it. Conflict relief, a London-based Arab and Israeli theatre collaboration, may not have any answers to the region’s problems, but their original, jointly scripted, surreal show suggests humour could be a useful tool. From the zaniness of the Land Factor TV programme to the silliness of the hummus test in the passport control sketch, Palestinian Nour Alkawaja, Israeli Ofer Yatziv, Lebanese-American Jana Zenadeen and Bournemouth Jew Rebecca Gross sizzle together. And that’s without the chicken.
EVENING STANDARD
Theatre Review
THE ARAB, THE JEW AND THE CHICKEN
Courtyard Theatre
CULTURE CLASH
By Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard
Typical. You wait ages for a comedy about the Arab/Israeli conflict then two come along. After mime duo Gecko’s dark physical humour, international quintet Conflict Relief offers a more accessible approach, with satirical sketches highlighting the absurdity of two cultures clashing despite having so much in common.
Best is Elabdaly’s travel agent, offering tourists sights including “historical ruins created last week.” TV spoofs such as Land Factor virtually write themselves, yet there is potential here, with confident performances papering over cracks in the material.
This ensemble clearly knows their Hammas from their hummous without taking sides. As sassy chat show host Roberta (Jana Zenadeen) asks: “The Middle East. Whodunnit?” Conflict Relief never answers her question but unearths plenty of laughs.
