Directed by Ido Ricklin
Narrative Feature | Israel | 2024 | 120 min | Hebrew

PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE
The Israeli Opera proudly presents THEODOR, an inspiring and visually captivating opera that delves into the life and origin story of Theodor Herzl, the visionary behind the modern State of Israel, and depicts how his experiences with rising antisemitism in Europe compelled him to recognize the necessity of a Jewish state. Composed by Yonatan Cnaan and directed by Ido Ricklin, this opera masterfully blends music, theater, and stunning visual elements to portray Herzl’s relentless quest for a Jewish belongingness.

Director’s Bio

Ido Ricklin was born in Israel and trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. He has directed for all Israeli theatre companies, including Pains of Youth, Dancing at Lughnasa, and The Rose Tattoo for the Habimah National Theatre; Philadelphia Here I Come, Prelude to A Kiss, Bertha’s Piano, The Count of Monte Cristo, Much Ado About Nothing, Galileo, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Ghosts for the Beer Sheva Theatre; Amy’s View, Day in the Death of Joe Egg, and Blackbird for the Cameri Theatre; The Heiress for Beit Lessin; As You Like It for the Mediatheque and Beit Lessin; Lovers, Whale Music, My Mother Said I Never Should, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, The Playboy of the Western World, The Devil’s General, The Swan, Tiger at the Gate, Bent, The Shortest Night of the Year, Fathers and Sons, Obsession, and Fantasy for the Library Theatre; A Midsummer’s Night Dream for the German National Theatre in Weimar; Scenes from an Execution for the Darmstadt Theatre; Romeo and Juliet for the Heidelberg Theatre; and the opera Baruchs Schweigen (Ella Milch-Sherriff) for the Bruanschweig Opera and in Israel. He has written numerous plays, including The Shortest Night of the Year, Obsession, Fantasy, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Emil and the Detectives, Double Lottie, The Flying Classroom, Momo, Heidi, and The Snow Queen. His stage version of The Count of Monte Cristo has won him the Israeli Theater Award for Best Production as playwright and director. Since 2018, he is the dramaturg of the Israeli Opera.

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