Klezmer by the Sea: a sold-out night, a schools day to remember, and what it all added up to

Written By Tom Godwin

On Wednesday 10th June, The Drum at Theatre Royal Plymouth was full. Cabaret tables instead of theatre rows, drinks in hand, and The Klezmer Village Band, Ilana Cravitz on violin, John Macnaughton on clarinet and Theo Malka-Wishart on double bass, playing to a sold-out room.

Klezmer by the Sea was one of the largest events outside London and Manchester in the UK's first ever Jewish Culture Month, led by the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Plymouth's Jewish community dates back to the 1740s and is one of England's oldest provincial communities, yet for many years the city has seen very little Jewish cultural programming. This felt like something coming home.

Sold out Klezmer by the Sea at The Drum, Theatre Royal Plymouth

The morning after: music in our schools

The following morning, the musicians went into schools. Children from Woodfield, Mount Street and St Peter's primary schools were deliberately mixed across schools, learned klezmer songs and dances together, and then performed for the whole of Woodfield in their school hall.

Joanna Mallin, Deputy Head at Woodfield, described a real buzz across the school all day. Bridget Shillaber at Mount Street told us her children talked of nothing else on the journey back. For many, it was their first encounter with klezmer and with Jewish culture. One boy said no musician had ever played live music to him before.

Honestly, that schools day may be the part that matters most. When children meet Jewish culture through music, dance and shared joy, curiosity replaces assumption and connection replaces distance. That is exactly why we do this work.

The coverage

The response was unlike anything we have seen before. Klezmer by the Sea and the schools day were covered across broadcast, print and online:

Broadcast

Press

In Parliament
Rebecca Smith MP for South West Devon raised our work in a House of Commons debate during Jewish Culture Month. Details here.

None of it happens without allies

Our approach has always been about place, pride and purpose, and about building with others rather than alone. Klezmer by the Sea showed what that can look like.

Our heartfelt thanks go to Theatre Royal Plymouth, to the schools and teachers who gave their time so generously, and to Plymouth Youth Music Service. Thank you to our MPs and councillors, including Rebecca Smith MP and Deputy Leader of the Council Jemima Lang, for their donations, and to the businesses and civic partners who backed us. A huge thank you to The Bernstein Family for their financial support, and to everyone who volunteered, shared the event across their networks and came along on the night.

Understanding isn't something you can demand. It's something you build together, side by side.

What comes next

We'd love Klezmer by the Sea to be the first of many. If you have ideas, want to get involved, or would like to join one of our online advisory board meetings, we'd be delighted to hear from you. Thoughts, suggestions and feedback, good or bad, are always welcome by email if that's easier.

Get in touch at hello@plymouthjewishcommunity.org

More joy, less oy!

Tom, Louise and Louise
Directors, Plymouth Jewish Community CIC

Tom Godwin
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