{{Short description|Israeli playwright}} right|200px|thumb|Yaron Edelstein '''Yaron Edelstein''' (Hebrew: ירון אדלשטיין; born 1979) is an Israeli playwright and theatre director.<ref name=" Tal Gordon "> Gordon, Tal (August 30, 2017). [https://www.habama.co.il/Pages/Description.aspx?Subj=1&Area=1&ArticleID=28795 Interview with Yaron Edelstein]. ''Habama''. </ref> His plays performed in Israel, Finland, Germany, and Italy and have been translated into English, French, Polish, German, and Italian. <ref> [https://dramaisrael.org/playwright/yaronedelstein/ Yaron Edelstein plays]. Drama Israel. </ref> <ref name=" Italian " > (February 17, 2019). [http://www.teatriincomune.roma.it/events/ci-me-lha-fatta-in-testa/ CHI ME L’HA FATTA IN TESTA?]. Teatri in commune. </ref> Edelstein won the Cameri Theater Best Playwright Award (2021, 2024), <ref name=" Cameri Theater prize winners "> [https://www.facebook.com/364807043365/posts/10158349202868366/ Cameri Theater prize winners]. </ref> the Israeli Fringe Award for Best Director and Best Dramatic Adaptor (2010), <ref name=" Merav Yudilovitch "> Yudilovitch, Merav (March 4, 2011). [https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4037664,00.html The Israeli Fringe Award winners]. ''Ynet''. </ref> the Acre Festival prize for Best Original Show (2013), <ref name=" Helen Kaye "> Kaye, Helen (September 30, 2013). [https://www.jpost.com/arts-and-culture/arts/war-and-social-media-come-out-tops-at-acre-festival-2013-327487 War and social media come out tops at Acre Festival 2013]. ''Jerusalem Post''. </ref> and in Germany, he received an award at the Heidelberger Stückemarkt for his play ''Mountain''. <ref name=" preis"> (17. März 2010). [https://www.nachtkritik.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4108:stuecke-fuer-den-autorenwettbewerb-des-heidelberger-stueckemarkts-nominiert&catid=126&Itemid=100890 Stücke für den Autorenwettbewerb des Heidelberger Stückemarkts nominiert]. ''Nachkritik''. </ref>
==Early life== Edelstein grew in Rehovot, Israel. <ref name=" Tal Gordon "/> He graduated from the Department of Theatre Directing at the School for Performing Arts in Kibbutzim College Tel Aviv (2003-2006). <ref name=" improv "> [http://www.improvtheater.co.il/%D7%94%D7%A9%D7%97%D7%A7%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%95%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%A0%D7%97%D7%99%D7%9D/ theachers]. Improv theater. </ref>
==Career== ''Mountain'', Edelstein's first original play, is a fantasy dealing with the Israeli ethos of bravery, follows five soldiers in an endless war. It corresponds to controversial combats in the history of the state of Israel and historical figures such as Israeli leader Ariel Sharon. In 2010 the play won an award at the Heidelberger Stückemarkt Festival in Germany and was chosen to be produced as a full production. <ref name=" preis"/> Timo Kirstin directed its European premiere in 2011 at the Theater & Orchester Heidelberg. Harald Raab, reviewing in the ''Nachtkritik'' wrote: "Edelstein gives an insight into the physical and psychological destruction of immediate experiences during warfare: no heroic epic, but also no striking anti-war piece. Just an Ecce homo - and therefore strong: young men who have not yet overcome their fear of the mythical woman and therefore boast about their sexual conquest adventures, in the extreme situation of having to kill and in the danger of being killed themselves." <ref> Raab, Haarald (January 2011). [https://nachtkritik.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5192:berg-yaron-edelsteins-stueck-am-theater-heidelberg-uraufgefuehrt-&catid=193:theater-heidelberg&Itemid=40 When young men go to war]. ''Nachtkritik''. </ref> In 2013 ''Mountain'' was staged at the Notzar Theatre in Israel, under the direction of Dalit Milstein, a collaborator in the writing process. <ref> Brick, Hila Aharon (November 17, 2013). [https://www.habama.co.il/Pages/Description.aspx?Subj=1&Area=1&ArticleID=21074 two persons above the mountain]. ''Habama''. </ref>
In 2009 Edelstein led an ensemble of writers and actors in the creation of ''Nana's friends'', a satiric performance that ran in Tel Aviv's Tmu-na Theater until 2013. <ref name=" tmu-na "> [https://www.tmu-na.org.il/?CategoryID=166&ArticleID=1767 Nana's friends]. Tmu-na Theater. </ref> The show was nominated for Best Ensemble Show in Israel Fringe in 2010. <ref name=" Tal Levin "> Levin, Tal (March 6, 2011). [https://www.haaretz.co.il/gallery/theater/1.3292770 Israel Fringe prize winners]. ''Ha'ir''. </ref> Marat Parkhomovsky, writing for ''Time Out Tel-Aviv'', described the show: "Theatre and funkiness are two notions that rarely meet. This is the rare case of a funky theatre: extreme, unexpected, fast, furious and authentically exhilarating." <ref name=" Marat Parkhomovsky "> Parkhomovsky, Marat (September 7, 2010). [https://web.archive.org/web/20160325110836/http://2nd-ops.com/maratp/?p=643 An interview with Yaron Edelstein]. ''Time Out Tel-Aviv''. </ref>
In 2010, together with Tal Brenner, Edelstein adapted for the stage Sholem Aleichem's story ''The Creature''. The adaptation, co-directed by Edelstein and Brenner, was staged in Seminar Hakibutzim College for Dramatic Arts and continued its run at Tzavta theatre in Tel Aviv. <ref name=" Sarit Fux "> Fux, Sarit (November 6, 2010). [https://www.makorrishon.co.il/nrg/online/47/ART2/174/920.html The gross creature]. ''Maariv''. </ref> Edelstein and Brenner won the 2010 Israel Fringe Prize for Best Adapted Play and Best Theatre Directors. <ref name=" Merav Yudilovitch "/>
In 2013, Edelstein's play ''Pfffffff'', co-written and directed with Aharon Levin, premiered at the Acre Festival for Alternative Theatre. ''Pfffffff'' won the festival's first prize <ref name=" Helen Kaye "/> and continued to run until 2015 at The Incubator Theatre in Jerusalem. <ref name=" Maya Nahum Shahal "> Nahum Shahal, Maya (March 8, 2015). [https://www.calcalist.co.il/consumer/articles/0,7340,L-3654058,00.html The miraculous journey of the mole]. ''Calcalist''. </ref> ''Pffffffff'', a dark farce, follows an Israeli submarine commander that has decided to take matters into his own hands and initiate a nuclear assault against Iran. Meanwhile, Israel's top politicians and security personnel gather in a desperate attempt to stop the imminent nuclear holocaust. <ref> Parkhomovsky, Marat (November 28, 2013). [https://timeout.co.il/%D7%A9%D7%9E%D7%97-%D7%91%D7%A4%D7%92%D7%99%D7%99%D7%94/ Happy play]. ''Time Out Tel Aviv''. </ref> Introducing the event's final award, Yossi Sarid, chair of the Acre festival committee, described the show : "The play is dramatized and portrayed as a dark farce calling for complete freedom of the imagination. But on second thought and perhaps a third, it may be far more realistic than we suppose." <ref name=" Ynet "> Yudilovitch, Merav (September 24, 2013). [https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4433304,00.html Acre festival winners]. ''Ynet''. </ref> In 2014 the play took part in the IsraDrama and International Exposure of Israeli Theatre events <ref> [https://dramaisrael.org/%d7%a0%d7%91%d7%97%d7%a8%d7%95-%d7%94%d7%94%d7%a6%d7%92%d7%95%d7%aa-%d7%94%d7%9e%d7%a9%d7%aa%d7%aa%d7%a4%d7%95%d7%aa-%d7%91%d7%99%d7%a9%d7%a8%d7%90-%d7%93%d7%a8%d7%9e%d7%94-%d7%96%d7%a8%d7%a7%d7%95-2/ Spotlight on Israeli drama 2014]. Israeli Dramatists website. </ref> and was subsequently translated into English and Polish. <ref> [https://dramaisrael.org/en/play/ppppppp-aharon-levin-yaron-edelstein/ Pffffffff translations] </ref>
In 2014 Edelstein directed the show ''The Vampire, the Thief, the Prostitute and the Moon'', which he wrote in collaboration with students at Beit Zvi School of the Performing Arts. The show, written in a fantasy style, brought to stage four original tales. <ref> (April 8, 2014). [https://www.habama.co.il/Pages/Description.aspx?Subj=1&Area=1&ArticleID=22027 Myths awakening in Beit Zvi]. ''Habama''. </ref>
In 2015, Edelstein and Aharon Levin co-wrote and directed the children's play ''The Little Mole'' based on the best selleing book "The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business" by Wolf Erlbruch. <ref name=" Nurith Asayah "> Asayah Nurith (May 6, 2015). [https://www.haaretz.co.il/kids/kids-shows/1.3263121 Moral is redundant]. ''Ha'ir''. </ref> The show premiered in the Tel Aviv Museum of Art <ref> Gordon, Tal (March 18, 2015). [https://www.habama.co.il/Pages/Description.aspx?Subj=6&Area=1&ArticleId=24166 About the little mole]. ''Habama''. </ref> and in 2016 the production was nominated for the Israeli Children's Theatre Awards for Best Show, Best Directors and Best Original Music and won the Best Supporting Actor for Itzik Lilach. <ref name=" Itzik Lilach "> (September 4, 2016). [https://www.habama.co.il/Pages/Description.aspx?Subj=6&Area=1&ArticleId=27112 Israeli Children's Theatre Awards 2016]. ''Habama''. </ref> In 2019 the play was translated into Italian and was directed by Claudia de La Seta and had its Rome premiere at the Teatro Tor Bella Monaca.<ref name=" Italian "/>
Later in 2015, Edelstein wrote and directed the children's play ''On Three Pandas and One Goldilocks'' together with actress Ayala Dangur. <ref name=" The Train Theatre "> [https://www.traintheater.co.il/he/repertoire/%D7%94%D7%A6%D7%92%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%93%D7%99%D7%9D/98 Goldilocks and the Three Bears]. The Train Theatre. </ref> The production premiered at The Train Theatre as part of the International Puppet Festival in Jerusalem. <ref> (August 6, 2015). [https://www.haaretz.co.il/kids/1.3261361 Puppet Festival in Jerusalem]. ''Ha'ir''. </ref> In 2015 it was nominated for Best Single Performer Show for Children.
In 2016 Edelstein adapted and directed Anton Chekhov's ''The Seagull''. It was performed at Seminar Hakibbutzim College for Dramatic Arts. The production was chosen to represent the college in the annual festival of performing arts schools at Habima Theatre. <ref name=" Habima Theatre ">[https://www.habima.co.il/shows/%D7%94%D7%A9%D7%97%D7%A3-%D7%A1%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%A8-%D7%94%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%91%D7%95%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%9D/ The Seagull] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920010425/https://www.habima.co.il/shows/%D7%94%D7%A9%D7%97%D7%A3-%D7%A1%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%A8-%D7%94%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%91%D7%95%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%9D/ |date=2020-09-20 }}. Habima Theatre.</ref>
In 2017 Edelstein's play ''The Ephemerals'' premiered at the Notzar Theatre under his direction. <ref name=" Tal Gordon "/> In 2018 the play was granted the Mifal HaPayis scholarship for translation and was translated into English by Natalie Fainstein. The play was chosen to perform at the International Exposure of Israeli Theatre events in 2018. <ref> [https://web.archive.org/web/20190506111515/http://exposure.dramaisrael.org/presentation-2-the-situation-in-hebrew-hamatzav/ scattered (the paly former name)]. The Hanoch Levin Institute of Israeli Drama. </ref> ''The Ephemerals'', an urban fantasy, follows the stories of 8 characters and a dog in a big city when a terrorist bombing suddenly occurs and shakes their worlds. The main character, Avot, is a young poet making a living as a weatherman, a job he detests. He finds himself in the middle of the terror attack scene, first to cover the event live on primetime television and consequently gets a taste of glory and recognition. Fueled by the desire to extend his brief moment of fame, Avot decides to initiate further terror attacks throughout the city himself, in order to be the first to cover them. <ref> (August 15, 2017). [https://www.habama.co.il/Pages/Description.aspx?Subj=1&Area=1&ArticleID=28743 New production in Notzar: The Ephemerals] </ref>
In 2021, Edelstein's play ''Ringo'' premiered at The Cameri Theater of Tel Aviv, directed by Amit Apte. <ref> Schwartz, Ron (August 23, 2021). [https://www.mako.co.il/culture-books-and-theatre/theatre-reviews/Article-57c4eb932527b71026.htm Angry dick]. mako. </ref> The play won Edelstein the 2021 Cameri Theatre Best Playwright Award. <ref name=" Cameri Theater prize winners "/> ''Ringo'', a wild musical comedy, tells the story of Danny Dingot that minutes after he proposes to Mika, discovers that his penis has disappeared. By then his penis - Ringo - is already celebrating its independence all over town. While Danny sets off in search of his lost manhood, Mika is swept off her feet and have an affair with Ringo and Ringo himself enlists in the IDF and is abducted by Hamas. <ref> Dekel, Ayelet (June 8, 2021). [https://www.midnighteast.com/mag/?p=52558 Cameri Theatre: Ringo]. Midnight East. </ref> Nano Shabtai, writing for ''Haaretz'', described the play as "light-hearted and witty comedy, that also evokes thought and mostly a human-artistic longing for more humane world, for equality and love, similar to great musicals like Hair. This is a fun human-loving theatre capsule". <ref name=" Nano Shabtai "> Shabtai, Nano (June 6, 2021). [https://www.haaretz.co.il/gallery/theater/theater-review/.premium-1.9877047 “Ringo”: The world is dominated by egomaniac penis]. ''Haaretz''. </ref> In 2023, it was showcased at the R.E.A.D. festival in Helsinki.<ref> [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/616f30c708168c400654abaa/t/67010a71d9af5267a0a3c2d0/1728121458677/READ+%2309+festival+program+mini.pdf R.E.A.D. festival in Helsinki].</ref>
Also in 2021, Edelstein and Aharon Levin co-wrote the children's play ''Sticky''. The play received the Maison Antoine Vitez grant and was translated into French by Laurence Sendrowicz. In 2024, it was published by Edition Théâtrales. <ref> [https://www.maisonantoinevitez.com/fr/bibliotheque/sticky-le-petit-phasme-1241.html Sticky, le petit phasme] .maisonantoinevitez.com. </ref>
In 2022, Edelstein wrote the one-person play 'Where Your Heart Beats' and co-directed it with Tal Brenner, starring Daniel Sabag. The play premiered at the 2023 Theatronetto Festival in Jaffa and continued to be performed at the Habima Theater and across the country. The play tells the story of a young soldier who is granted special leave from the army after his father suffers a heart attack and is scheduled for a major bypass surgery. He decides to spend the night before the surgery at a small neighborhood pub on Lilienblum Street in Tel Aviv, where he seeks comfort in the words and stories of the pub’s staff and regulars, trying to ease his anxiety. Surrounded by alcohol and the atmosphere of the pub, he absorbs the flood of fantasies, quirks, and breakdowns from the pub’s patrons, all set against the harshness of reality, and in the process, he reconnects with himself.<ref>Shai Regev(May 21, 2023). [https://www.maariv.co.il/culture/theater-art/article-1007882 "Where Your Heart Beats": All you need for a good performance is a twisted script, a talented actor – and a chair]. Maariv online.</ref>
In 2023, Edelstein wrote the play 'Mikey Saves The Day,' which premiered at the Cameri Theater of Tel Aviv. The play was directed by Amit Apte and performed by the Cameri, a new generation group. The play won Edelstein the 2024 Cameri Theatre Best Playwright Award. The play follows Mickey, a young ISA agent and dedicated Israeli patriot, who is assigned a top-secret mission: to travel back in time to November 1995 and prevent the Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin. Unexpectedly, in Tel Aviv in the mid-90s,’ Mickey meets his future parents and tries to prevent the betrayal that will ruin their marriage - only to discover a more profound and darker betrayal that he could never have imagined.<ref>Maya Nahum Shahal (January 17, 2024). [https://www.calcalist.co.il/style/article/bkrcax4fa The fantasy of saving Rabin is about saving ourselves]. Calcalist.</ref>
===Teaching=== Edelstein currently (2021) teaches acting and dramatic writing at Kibbutzim College in Tel Aviv <ref> [https://www.smkb.ac.il/academic-programs/undergraduate/arts-faculty/theater/about/faculty/acting-faculty/ acting teachers]. Kibbutzim College. </ref> and Improvising skills at the Improv Theatre Israel. <ref name=" improv "/> Since 2006 he and Boaz Debby lead groups of soldiers between the ages 18–21 in an annual acting workshop enabling creative expression within the complex experience of mandatory military service in Israel. <ref> [https://www.schoolandcollegelistings.com/IL/Tel-Aviv/1755274561154441/%D7%A1%D7%93%D7%A0%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%97%D7%99%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%9D----%D7%9E%D7%A9%D7%97%D7%A7-%D7%95%D7%99%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%94-%D7%9C%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%90%D7%98%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%9F The soldiers acting workshop]. </ref> Together with Boaz Debby and Eran Ben Zvi, Edelstein founded and to this day leads the improvisation ensemble 'V.I.Play.' <ref> [https://www.viplay.co.il/playbackteam V.I.Play]. </ref> <ref> Bosak, Lior (September 5, 2006). “The play is your home”. ''Bamahane''. 60-61. Schildkraut, Yaron (December 5, 2008). “Comedies on your command!”. ''Bamahane''. 60-61. </ref>
==Works== ===Plays=== *''Mountain'', Theatre & Orchester Heidelberg, Germany, 2011; Notzar theatre, Israel, 2014; Tmu-na theatre, Israel, 2019;<ref>[https://www.tmu-na.org.il/?CategoryID=166&ArticleID=4769&SearchParam=%D7%94%D7%A8 Mountain]. Tmu-na theatre.</ref> *''The Creature'', (Co-written with Tal Brenner) an adaptation of Shalom Aleichem's story, Tzavta theatre, Israel, 2011 <ref name=" Sarit Fux "/> *''Pfffffff'', (Co-written with Aharon Levin), Acre Festival and Incubator theatre, Israel 2013 <ref> Noy, Haim (June 24, 2014). [https://www.news1.co.il/Archive/0024-D-93584-00.html Pfffffff, A most appalling play]. ''News1''</ref> *''The Little Mole'', (Co-written with Aharon Levin), Tel Aviv Museum, 2015;<ref>(March 29, 2015). [https://www.habama.co.il/Pages/Description.aspx?Subj=6&Area=1&ArticleId=24231 Passover activities in Tel Aviv Museum]. ''Habama''.</ref> Teatro Tor Bella Monaca, Italy, 2019;<ref name=" Italian "/> Be'er Sheva Theatre for Children and Youth, Israel, 2019 <ref> [https://www.b7ct.org.il/%D7%94%D7%97%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%93-%D7%94%D7%A7%D7%98%D7%9F/ The Little Mole]. Be'er Sheva Theatre for Children and Youth</ref> *''The Ephemerals'', Notzar theatre, Israel, 2017 <ref name=" Tal Gordon "/> *''Ringo'', The Cameri Theatre of Tel Aviv, Israel, 2021 <ref> Shuv, Yael (September 9, 2021). [https://timeout.co.il/%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%92%D7%95-%D7%91%D7%99%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%AA/ The Next cult show]. ''Time Out Tel Aviv''.</ref> *''Where your heart beats'', Theatronetto Festival and Habima theatre, Israel, 2023. *''Mickey Saves the Day'', The Cameri Theatre of Tel Aviv, Israel, 2024.
===Directing work=== *''Nana's Friends'', Tmu-na theatre, Israel, 2009 <ref name=" Marat Parkhomovsky "/> * ''The Good Soldier Svejk'', (Co-directed with Tal Brenner), Seminar Hkibutzim College, Israel, 2011.<ref> (April 2011). [https://www.habama.co.il/Pages/Event.aspx?Subj=1&Area=1&EventID=18657 The Good Soldier Svejk]. ''Habama''.</ref> * ''The Vampire, the Thief, the Prostitute and the Moon'', Beit-Zvi School of Performance Arts, Israel, 2014<ref>Noy, Haim (April 8, 2014). [https://www.news1.co.il/Archive/0024-D-91522-00.html Review: The Vampire, the Thief, the Prostitute and the Moon].</ref> * On Three Pandas and One Goldilocks, The Train Theatre, Israel, 2015 <ref name=" The Train Theatre "/> * ''The Seagull'', Seminar Hakibutzim College and Habima National Theatre, Israel, 2017 <ref name=" Habima Theatre "/>
===Awards and honours=== * Heidelberger Stückemarkt Festival's Award, Germany, for ''Mountain'' (2010) <ref name=" preis"/> * Israel Fringe Prize for Best Adapted Play and Best Director, Israel, for ''The Creature'' (2010) <ref name=" Merav Yudilovitch "/> * Acre Festival prize for best show, Israel, for ''Pfffffff'' (2013) <ref name=" Ynet "/> * Nominations for the Israeli Children's Theatre Awards in the categories of Best Show, Best Director, Best Original Music and Best Supporting actor for ''The Little Mole'' (2016) <ref name=" Itzik Lilach "/> * Mifal Hapais grant for translation, Israel, for ''The Ephemerals'' (2018) * Maison Antoin Vitez grant for translation, France, for ''Sticky'' (2021) <ref>[https://www.maisonantoinevitez.com/fr/palmares-aide-traduction.html Projets de traductions retenus en 2021]. Maison antoine vitez: centre international de la traduction theatrale.</ref> * The Cameri Theatre prize for best playwright, Israel, for ''Ringo'' (2021) <ref name=" Cameri Theater prize winners "/>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edelstein, Yaron}} Category:Living people Category:1979 births Category:Jewish Israeli writers Category:Israeli male dramatists and playwrights Category:Jewish dramatists and playwrights Category:21st-century Israeli dramatists and playwrights Category:Israeli theatre directors Category:Kibbutzim College alumni Category:Academic staff of Kibbutzim College Category:People from Rehovot