New generation of Jewish comedic talent

Melbourne’s Jewish comedians have teamed up with Kadimah’s most prolific performers and klezmorim to present The Kadimah Purim Shpiel – a heymish meshugas of music, satire and sharp community humour, celebrating Purim in true Yiddish style.

Written and performed by a new generation of Jewish comedic talent, this year’s shpiel sees the infamous Haman (boo, hiss) hatch an evil plan to infiltrate the Yiddish community and sabotage the promotion of Yiddish once and for all. It’s up to Esther and Mordechai to fight back – with wit, song and more than a little chutzpah.

Blending traditional Purim shpiel elements with contemporary alternative comedy, the production breaks the fourth wall, leans into meta humour, and lovingly pokes fun at Melbourne’s Jewish community.

The show is written by professional comedians including Beth Paterson (Niusia), winner of the Scotsman’s Fringe First Award, Edinburgh Fringe Festival; Jude Perl, four-time Green Room Award winner (Best Cabaret, Melbourne Fringe 2018); Jacob Sacher, whose show Promising Young Mensch was nominated for Best Comedy at Melbourne Fringe Festival 2024; and Dom Weintraub, general manager of the Centre of Jewish Artists and member of Ponycam, whose show Burnout Paradise holds an off-Broadway residency.

The cast features Uma Dobia as Haman – a comedian and professional opera singer, Rising Artist with the Australian Contemporary Opera Company and Developing Artist with Melbourne Opera – alongside Hugo Friedman, Josh Reuben, Sacher and Yoni Ringelblum.