MITCHA FIGA
Mitcha Figa – half a fig in Romani (gypsy language) and the name of the white horse that appears in a piece by Pina Bausch, is a new multidisciplinary theatrical event under the artistic direction of Yehezkel Lazarov, that invites the audience to experience the depth of the creative process and dive into the realms of inspiration, questions and cultural contexts that go into the production of a theater play. Mitcha Figa offers a “theater season”, lasting six months and consisting of a series of multidisciplinary events and a play, which will introduce the audience for the first time the process of exploring and creating theater.
Mitcha Figa's theater season consists of a play that is "wrapped" by a series of multidisciplinary events: from plastic art, literature, music, philosophy, science, dance, architecture to video-art cinema, sound installation and performance.
The entire theater season will reveal the thought process, the realization of the work and outline the map of contexts that illuminates theatrical work in a new light. Mitcha Figa’s approach preserves the theatrical charm, expands the boundaries of the show and creates layers of context that are revealed throughout the entire season. The guiding principle is that an involved audience is a satisfied audience.
The Superfluous Man
Mitcha Figa celebrated its opening with a multidisciplinary event that took place in the halls and courtyards of the Tel Aviv Culture Center, which provides a home for the project since its inception and became a partner along with the investing company Yu Productions. The event, under the artistic direction of Yehezkel Lazarov, included: an artistic performance, video art, a glimpse into the inner world of the show’s characters, a culinary surprise, philosophical enrichment, a sleepover party and more. The play "The superfluous Man", adapted and directed by Lazarov from the Russian classic "Oblomov" by Ivan Goncharov, was the center of the first event.
Oblomov's character in the play "The superfluous Man" represents the phenomenon of indifference in social and private life. Laziness, inaction, idleness and dreaminess, are part of the hero's belief system. In this adaptation Lazarov asks whether a person has the right to live his life without leaving a mark - To be, and then not to be. Is the departure from life’s ongoing sequence, from the workforce, and from social life - legitimate in a world that is entirely centered on aspirations, goals and achievements?
"The Superfluous Man" was the first theater performance staged at the Tel Aviv Culture Center, which usually hosts concerts, entertainment shows, conferences and more. The show at Zucker Hall that started in January 2022, provides an exceptional experience through the unique acoustics and the intimate atmosphere the hall creates.
The Superfluous Man Trailer
An Article About Yechezkel Lazarov on National News Network KAN11
Mitcha Figa Staff
Yehezkel Lazarov
Founder, Mitcha Figa / Artistic Director
An Israeli director, actor and a multidisciplinary artist. Head of school of performing arts Kibbutzim Academy of education, Technology and the Arts. After graduating from High School of Arts as a ballet dancer and serving as a singer in a military band he joined the "Bat-Sheva Dance Company". He studied theatre at the Actors’ Centre in London before joining "Gesher" Theatre and the "Cameri" Theatre as an actor and in-house choreographer. His leading roles include Tevye in the 2018 Broadway National Tour of "Fiddler on the Roof", "The Threepenny Opera" (winning the Israeli Theatre Award for best actor), "The Marriage of Figaro", "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and more. Lazarov is the Director, Adaptor, set Designer & Choreographer of all his works: “Every Hour, on the Hour” (by Lazarov) "Lolita / Joan of Arc" (Vladimir Nabokov – original protocols), "Fathers & Sons" (Ivan Turgenev), Gesher theater. "The Picture of Dorian Gray" (Oscar Wilde) The national theatre. "Desire at Dusk", (Hanoch Levin), The national theatre. "Alice", Gesher Theatre, "Falling Out of Time" (based on David Grossman novel), Gesher Theatre. "Igloo" (by Lazarov), premiered in Israel Festival, winner of the Fringe Award for best director.
Lazarov is the Artistic director and co-founder of "Studio Ankori" Middle and High School for creative thinking and entrepreneurship. Initiator, artistic director & curator of AZA13. "Hope", "Censorship", "Demonstration", "The Art to Survive" are a few of his multidisciplinary exhibitions. As a visual artist, Lazarov has shown photography and video-art works in several gallery exhibitions. He has written and directed short films, "snow", "Lashabiya" and "no lifeguard", which have been screened to much acclaim at several intentional film festivals. Lazarov has played leading roles in more than 40 films and television productions, such as "The Mentalist" (Russian version), "Waltz with Bashir" (winning Golden Globe Award), "A Touch Away” (winning best TV series), "The Dybbuk” (nominated for best actor), and more.
Alin Lazarov
Co-Founder, Mitcha Figa / Manager
A graduate of Shenkar College - Design for the Performing Arts and Manshar Arts - Film Studies. She has been lead designer for films, television, theater productions and dance productions, as well as Director of a production company in the field of culture and art (2012 - 2018), managing customer relations, accounts, partnerships and producing artistic initiatives.
Yu Jingyi
Investor / Co-founder, Yu Productions
Yu Jingyi is a producer, writer, director and the founder of China Israel Culture and Art Fund. Yu is both a creator and an entrepreneur with extended experience in China as top rating TV director in China Central TV, and a Theatre owner who produced many classic plays including "3 sisters", "The Beauty of Linan Mountain", "Pillow man" and the Chinese version of Hanoch Levin "Requiem". She is also a poet who published her own collection of poems in the book "JY Lyric Poems".
David Galil
Investor / Co-founder, Yu Productions
David is a co-founder at Yu Productions. He is also a teacher at the Beijing School of the Arts, a writer and a tour guide.
Paz Galinsky
Mitcha Figa Project Advisor
A Partner and Co-CEO at FAZA, an event, content and culture production company. Since its inception in 1998 she has specialized in creating events that are an unforgettable experience, aiming to touch, excite and convey a message, without compromising on quality, innovation and creativity. The desire to innovate, fascinate and create has made Paz an influencer in the world of Israeli culture and art. Some of her productions include: Pecha Kucha, Fresh Paint, DGTL, Events at the Israel Museum, Conferences for Microsoft, CheckPoint, Weizmann Institute, SAP and more.
Omer Boulanger Cohen
A graduate of Seminar Hakibbutzim with a B.Ed. in Theater Directing (2019). He is a playwright, published author, theater director, music composer, lighting designer and visual artist.
Producer / Partner at Mitcha Figa
"I never earned life so I had nothing to lose. I wanted not to run anywhere, but just to be and then not to be..."
The Team
“The Superfluous Man"
Yehezkel Lazarov - Director, Adaptation, Set Design
Yair Vardi - Lighting Design
Alin Lazarov - Costume Design
Ran Slavin - Video Art / Photography / Editing
Irena Orlov - Assistant Director
Felix Shaposhnik - Sound Design
Omer Boulanger Cohen - Producer
Paz Galinsky - Project Advisor
Gali Zander - Public Relations
Saar Gamzo & Yuval Haring - Marketing & Sales
Actors:
Alon Friedman, Tali Sharon, Vladimir Friedman, Shira Naor, Gal Friedman, Gilad Kalter
Get in Touch
If you require any additional infomation about the production, please do not hesitate to reach out.
+972 52-440-3300
