Crossing Jerusalem
CROSSING JERUSALEM
Crossing Jerusalem depicts 24 hours in the life of an Israeli family in March 2002, as they cross the city during the last intifada.
Varda is trying to get a loan for an apartment block while also struggling to celebrate her daughter-in-law Yael’s 30th birthday. Her son, Gideon, a veteran from the 1982 Lebanon War, cannot face reserve duty in The Territories. Serge, Varda’s Russian second husband, is an out of work musician trying to keep his wife happy. Lee, Varda’s daughter, a teacher working with Arabs and Jews, is at war with her mother. Crossing Jerusalem to Abu Ghosh for hummus and falafel results in an accidental meeting with Yusuf and Sharif whose Palestinian history explodes can into the immediate present.
A BALANCED COMEDY ABOUT CONFLICT.
“This is also a play that can ONLY be about a Jewish family - remove that, and the play doesn’t work.”
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Julia Pascal is a playwright and theatre director. She was the first woman director at the National Theatre. Her stage plays have been produced internationally and have won prizes.
She trained as an actor and worked at The Royal Court Theatre, The National Theatre, Nottingham Playhouse, The Royal Shakespeare Company, BBC Television and radio. Films include The Hiding Place and the independent prize-winning feature Ham and The Piper. Her dramas are published by Oberon Books, Faber and Samuel French (Inc).
As a theatre director she has worked widely in London, France and has twice had her work shown in New York City. As a journalist she has freelanced for The Guardian, The Times, The Observer, The New Statesman, The Financial Times, City Limits, Time Out, New Society, The Jewish Chronicle, BBC Radio and as a radio and TV commentator. In London she works part time as a Writing Professor at New York University.
Her awards have included a NESTA Dreamtime Fellowship, an Alfred Bradley BBC Award and she has been a Writer in Residence at the University of York and the Wiener Library. She is represented by United Agents.
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