Sam Sherman’s Kaddish (how to be a sanctuary): performed by Sam Sherman. Old Red Lion Pub & Playhouse, London, 19 & 20.5.2026. (AK)
I attended the first two of the five-performance London run of writer/actor Sam Sherman’s fascinating play. I went to the first night with trepidation: I was interested in the subject, but I feared that a one-man show could not do justice to such a topic. However, the first night proved that there was no need to worry.
Featuring the writings of his grandfather (Saul N. Sherman, 1923 –1992), grandson Sherman provides a fascinating insight into the American Jewish experience during World War Two but also going further back to Jewish immigration from Russia to America, escaping the pogroms of the times.
Sherman compares his grandfather’s experience of fighting the Nazis (but, also, growing up around mobsters) with his own struggle to make our world better. He presents an imaginary conversation with his grandfather whom he never met. Saul’s struggle against the Nazis and Sam’s struggle to defend Palestinian shepherds from settler violence are juxtaposed, thus indicating – at least, in my interpretation – that the oppressors changed but the struggle to preserve our humanity and sense of justice continues.
There are two tables on the stage, Sherman changes where he sits (or stands) according to whether he speaks as his grandfather or himself. Unexpectedly, there is much humour from both sides, Sherman engages the audience with meaningful but funny dialogues, and he even does a spot of excellent singing. Owing to grandfather Saul’s upbringing, a smattering of Yiddish is thrown in too but patiently explaining the words (and getting the audience repeating them).
The presentation starts and concludes with the appearance of a golem (played by Sherman). In Jewish folklore the golem is created entirely from inanimate matter, usually clay or mud, and has been used – over the centuries – to indicate war, despair, hope and so on.
Sherman and his co-creator director Lila Weitzner managed to create exciting theatre out of two tables, two chairs, a light wooden (?) structure providing background scenery.
Sherman is magnificent beyond description. For full sixty minutes he holds attention; he talks with various dynamics, he moves between tables but also alternates various body postures, he sings, he cries, he laughs and he lives the story for all of us to see. In my long decades I saw much what was great on the stage, but never anything like Sherman’s magic.
If you can, go and see this magnificent presentation, more information click here.
Agnes Kory
Kaddish (how to be a sanctuary)
Creatives:
Written and performed by Sam Sherman
Directed and co-created by Lila Weitzner
Stage manager – Sonja Dighe
Set designer – Noah Weitzner
Set designer consultant – Daniel Toretsky