The short film Studio Visit with Yonatan Levy is available to watch at the top of the page.
Yonatan Levy is an artist of many talents – a theater director, playwright, poet, and teacher. His work uniquely marries myth and modernity, offering fresh lenses through which to view everyday life, symbols of our era, and enigmatic figures that range from celebrities to politicians and dictators. Levy’s prowess in re-contextualizing these elements lends a certain depth and complexity to his work that is as captivating as it is insightful.
My encounter with Levy came during the rehearsals for his thought-provoking play, Raful and the Sea. The play draws its inspiration from the mysterious demise of Rafael “Raful” Eitan, an Israeli general, former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, and later a politician, a Knesset member, and government minister. Raful tragically drowned in the sea while visiting the port of Ashdod, presumably swept away by a powerful sea surge.
In Raful and the Sea, Levy dramatically reconstructs the last night of Raful’s life, positioning the general on the breakwater of Ashdod Port in a fateful encounter with the sea. Through an evocative sequence of visions and songs, characters from Raful’s past – former subordinates, foes, and loved ones – emerge from the waves in attempts to sway and dominate the famously reserved general.
Raful’s tale, marked by his extraordinary self-control and reserved demeanor, stands as one of Israel’s most intriguing myths. Yet, as revealed by his widow, Ofra Meirson, after his death, his seemingly calm nights were tormented by screams and unrest. Raful and the Sea made its debut on the tenth anniversary of his drowning. This fascinating theatrical work explores Raful’s stature as a local mythical hero through an enchanting and ritualistic narrative.
To genuinely appreciate Levy’s unique artistic process and gain behind-the-scenes insights during the rehearsals of Raful and the Sea, we highly recommend the video linked at the top of the page. It offers a glimpse into the world Levy creates – a world where mythologies of the past infuse the modern narratives, casting a new, profound light on figures we thought we knew.
Beyond Raful and the Sea, Levy has an extensive body of work that includes pieces like Saddam Hussein, Giants, and the book Malkitaus. He is the initiator of the Sheikh Avrik Festival of Civil Culture and the co-founder of the Anthroposophical High School in Qiryat Tivon, where he imparts his knowledge and experience as a teacher.
In the accompanying video, Levy discusses contemporary theater as an artistic medium with a live and occasionally chaotic presence. It is a platform capable of unveiling the hidden sides of life, influencing the reality of our existence. Through his works, Levy invites us into a world where myths and modern realities converge, where the overlooked is given center stage, and where contemporary issues are examined under the lens of the past. His work remains a testament to the power of theater in unearthing the layers of human experience and social dynamics.c
The featured video Studio Visit with Yonatan Levy is part of the web series Yotsrim by Shachaf Dekel. Yotsrim includes five seasons and 73 episodes. The series won the Best Documentary award at the NYC Web Fest in 2019.
