October 7: A Verbatim Play is currently playing at The Actors’ Temple through June 16.
The power of October 7: A Verbatim Play is clear from its title. Its script is only the actual words of survivors of the October 7th Hamas massacre in Israel. Fourteen actors portray various Israelis who were in Southern Israel on the morning of October 7, 2023 and miraculously survived when terrorists invaded and killed 1,200 people and kidnapped 250 more.
Irish journalists Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney traveled to Israel in November 2023. They already observed that the world was demonizing Israel and felt compelled to report the events from the Israeli perspective. Most of those interviewed had seen friends or family die right before their eyes. By recording the testimonies of those at the Nova music festival and the surrounding kibbutzim and moshavim, they hoped the world would hear the truth of the single worst atrocity against Jews since the Holocaust.
Now those words have made their way to an off-Broadway stage. The cast does an excellent job conveying the horrific accounts of what thirteen people lived through and the horrors they witnessed. Some depict narratives of victims who had friends or family members die as they watched, many of whom were themselves injured. Others are the stories of rescuers – medics or civilians who did all they could to save as many people as possible. The range of people represented – in age, religious affiliation and gender – demonstrates how the atrocities of October 7 affected all types of Israelis.
The scarce set allows the audience to focus on imagining the surroundings of each victim and to center on the spoken words without distraction. In the small setting of the synagogue, the actors use the center aisle as part of the play, bringing the tension close to the audience. By the time 90 minutes are over, you will feel a connection to each of the individuals portrayed. One cannot help but be impacted and overwhelmed by the details of each account. imagine watching a live documentary drama – a journalistic report of the day only through the words of those interviewed.
Even if you know many of the horrid details of October 7, it’s crucial to go and bear witness to show support for victims and survivors. It’s important to share the message of this production – the truth is in the words of the people who experienced the day firsthand. Go and take someone with you. Support the brave journalists and actors trying to share the truth with the world.
Find more information and tickets HERE.
TV and City 