About

The Scapino ensemble engages in the preservation, development, and training of mask theater. This multilayered genre, particularly Commedia dell’arte, requires extreme proficiency and is obtained through physical expression training, constant practice and hours of mask work on and off stage. In addition to the ensemble’s creative enterprises, every troupe member is a certified teacher, passing on this tradition in various educational organizations and professional acting schools.

The ensemble performs across Israel, emphasizing shows, performances and workshops across the periphery. Scapino has initiated collaborations and theater festivals with many peripheral communities and regional councils, such as RC Golan, RC Eshkol, and RC Emek Hayarden, to name a few. Over the years, the ensemble has initiated and pioneered international collaborations with leading mask artists, such as Cristina Coltelli, Enrico Bonavera, Didi Hopkins and many more talented performers.

Scapino Ensemble is a registered non-profit organization accredited and supported as a productive group by Israel’s Ministry of Culture since 2020.

Establishing a creative and cultural hub focused on mask theater and Commedia dell’arte in Israel’s periphery. The hub will offer creative activities alongside professional culture events and educational and community activities. This combination will help us achieve the following goals:

1. Promoting, exposing and raising awareness of Commedia dell’arte and mask theater in Israel.
2. Integrating masks in educational, enrichment and training programs for children, teens and adults.
3. Training and preparing actors and performers in masks and physical theater.
4. Collaborating with theaters and professional theater schools in Israel and worldwide.
5. Encouraging actors and performers to develop independent productions in masks and Commedia dell’arte.
6. Creating and producing original Israeli shows in Commedia dell’arte and mask theater style.
7. Promoting street performances shows in the style of Commedia dell’arte and mask theater.
8. Representing Israel is festivals and international events through collaboration with professional artists from around the world.

Mentor, guide, beloved friend and the one who taught us everything about independent art. We first met Yoram at the end of the previous millennium as acting students at Tel Aviv University and fell in love. Not only with him but with the material he passed on to us in his movement and mask courses. He also directed us as students in a production of Carlo Gozzi’s “The Green Bird.” Before the rehearsal process, he took us on an academic trip to the Venice Mask Festival, funded by the university. Yoram continued to support us after graduation, directing and advising “My Wife’s Revenge” in 2004, our first independent production as Cremeschnitte Ensemble (Scapino Ensemble’s earliest phase). Yoram taught us the ins and outs of independent collaborative creation – starting with the joint writing process, through proper conduct and atmosphere during rehearsals, putting up posters in the wee hours of the night (remember, this was in 2004…) and most importantly – wonderful dinners with lots of wine and good spirits.

Yoram gave us every practical and theoretical tool necessary for physical and mask theater. But above all, he paved the way – gracefully, modestly and with uncompromising professionalism. For over 20 years, he was our shepherd in every one of our productions – advising, guiding, cooking, providing the wine, and nurturing us into who we are today.

Professor Yoram Boker 1940-2023 was an internationally acclaimed artist in pantomime and masks. A mime, choreographer, director, professor and mime and mask teacher at Tel Aviv University and in most professional acting schools in Israel. Professor Yoram Boker was an internationally acclaimed artist in pantomime and masks. Founder of “Yoram Boker’s Pantomime Theater” (1970), with which he performed in numerous festivals in Israel and worldwide. Born in Paris, France in the early 1940s. Attended the “Theater of Nations” University and studied pantomime with Marcel Marceau and Jacques Lecoq – who invited him to join his troupe upon graduation.

He came to Israel in 1959. In Israel, he performed his mime in a variety of artistic spheres: film, television, concerts, theater, etc. In 1978, Israel first hosted the Eurovision Song Contest – Yoram and his ensemble were entrusted with creating and performing all the segues between the competing songs.

Yoram directed and participated in more than a dozen pantomime shows in his theater, among them Carousel, Cross 2, Cards, On Masks and Men, A Pantomime Celebration, The World of Pantomime, Enchanting, Lady State, The Golden Goose, Mime Dreams, A Little Dream, Don Perlimplin, The Tale of a Man who Married a Mute Wife, The Green Bird, My Wife’s Revenge, Chaos on Stage and more. Here’s a link to a selection of Yoram Boker’s works on YouTube.

Mask artiste. A cultural entrepreneur, director, actor and teacher. Scapino Ensemble’s artistic director. Graduate of the Acting Program in Tel Aviv University’s Theater Faculty. Abud has spent the past two decades studying and specializing in physical theater and masks with Prof. Yoram Boker. Actor, director and writer of various shows and performances in fringe venues and festivals in Israel and abroad. Teacher of mask work and physical theater in professional acting schools, such as Kibbutzim Seminar College, Yoram Lowenstein’s Acting School, Tel Aviv University, and Haderech (The Way) Acting School. Abud is one of the founders of EVE – the Israeli Independent Creators Organization. He produced and promoted many projects and festivals in the Israeli periphery, such as International Commedia dell’arte Day, Golan Heights Children Theater Festival, etc.

Actor, playwright, director, and stage combat choreographer. A graduate of the Tel Aviv University’s acting program in 2002. Barak has written and performed in most of the Ensemble’s productions since its founding and has even directed one of them. In 2003-2004, he was part of Rina Yerushalmi’s Itim Ensembles and participated in numerous festivals worldwide. In addition to acting and writing, he holds a black belt in two martial arts and has knowledge of various weapons, leading him to develop a unique stage combat technique. Barak has choreographed stage combat for the Bimah Theater, Khan Theater, Haifa Children Theater Festival, Orna Porat Theater, and various commercial productions. Since 2005, Barak has been the resident stage combat choreographer for the Israeli Opera He teaches masks at the Goodman School of Acting in Be’er Sheva and heads the theater department at his alma mater, the Kfar Saba Arts High School.

Theater creator, actress, mask designer, drama therapist, producer, and the ensemble’s training program architect. A Studio for Performing Arts graduate at the Holon Theater, she holds a B.Ed in Education and Theater Teaching and an M.A in Therapeutic Arts, specializing in Psychodrama from the Kibbutzim Seminar. She facilitates specialized mask workshops for diverse populations and provides therapy for expression and creativity at the Ministry of Education. Ella lectures at Tel Hai College’s Drama Therapy department. In 2012, she won the Golden Hedgehog Award (Israel’s Fringe Theater Awards) for her performance in the ensemble’s production, “The Miser, Now What?”

Actress, theater creator, teacher, and theater therapist. A graduate of the Studio for Performing Arts at the Holon Theater. Holds a B.Ed in Education and Theater Teaching from the Kibbutzim Seminar and an M.A in Therapeutic Arts specializing in Psychodrama from the Kibbutzim Seminar. Specialized in mask work with Professor Yoram Boker and Commedia dell’arte with Fabrizio Paladin and Haim Abud.

Costume and set designer. Graduated with distinction with an M.F.A in stage design from Tel Aviv University (2002). Winner of Costume Design Awards at the Haifa Festival (2003) for the play “Moff and Morris,” “Chaos on Stage,” (2007) and “Neighbors” (2012). Merav also won the Golden Hedgehog Award (Israel’s Fringe Theater Awards) for lighting design in the play “110 Beats Per Minute” (2004). She has been Scapino’s costume designer in the ensemble’s productions since its founding (and even before).

Some of her costume designs include: “Enchanted April” (Be’er Sheva Theater), “Noah’s Ark” (Orna Porat Theater), “Ben-Yehuda” (Mediatheque and Kibbutz Theater), “A Dream Play” (The Laboratory), “My Wife’s Revenge” (Holon Theater), “Caviar ou Lentilles,” “Hidden Passion,” “Where is My Mom?” and “By My Baby” (Beit Zvi Acting School).

Her set and costume designs include: “The Life of Molière,” “Bialik,” “Someone Fell” (The Khan Theater), “60/60” (Orna Porat Theater), “Trumpet in the Wadi” (National Theater), “Picnic” (The Library Theater), “The Bear” (The Laboratory), and “Angina Pectoris” (Tzavta Theater).

A Jerusalemite living in Ness Ziona. Musician, writer, and educator. Winner of the 2022 Deborah Omer Prize for Children’s Literature. Dan Published two children’s books under the United Kibbutz Publishing House:
“The Princess and the True Bread Loaf ” (2013) (2013) and “On the Way to the Grocery Store” (2018). Both books were selected for the Israeli Ministry of Education’s ‘book parade.’ He has released three original music albums for both adults and children. Composes music for the theater (Scapino Ensemble, Orna Porat Theater, Kibbutzim Seminar) and has been involved in writing and producing several children’s plays. A graduate of Berklee College of Music (Boston, USA). Dan is married and is a father of four daughters.

Lighting designer and yoga instructor. A Department of Theater Arts graduate at Tel Aviv University and “Mountview” Academy in London (specializing in lighting design). She has designed lighting for theatrical plays, dance performances, and musical shows in Israel and abroad, including at the Habimah National Theater, the Cameri Theater, the Beit Lessin Theater, and the Be’er Sheva Theater. Lighting designer of all the ensemble’s productions since its founding (and even before).

Mask, puppet, prop, and set designer. Einat creates at home and in the studio in Atlit – masks, puppets, and props for various theaters, including Kibbutz Theater, National Youth Theater, The Hour Theater, Scapino Ensemble, Bimah Theater, Beit Lessin Theater, Beit Hillel, Haifa Theater, and Khan Theater in Jerusalem. Some notable works include:
“The King” – Haifa Theater – mask creation; “Land of the Wild Creatures” – design and production of puppets (The Metzitzim Theater);
“Flying Dragon” – puppet design and construction (National Youth Theater), received commendation for excellence for the puppets, and won the Theater Award
for Children and Youth in 2019; “The Heart” – production of masked puppets and props (Mediatheque Theater); “Around the World in Eighty Days” – production of props and more (Israeli Hour Theater). Einat is known for designing masks, puppets, and props that greatly contribute to various theatrical productions’ visual and artistic aspects.

Actress, choreographer, senior yoga instructor and Karni’s mom. Graduate of Yoram Lowenstein’s Acting School and specialized in mask acting with Haim Abud.

Noam Zipori, A mother of two. Actress and independent creator. Graduate of the Kibbutzim Seminar College’s Acting program. Holds a B.A in theater Directing and Teaching and an M.A in independent creation from Tel Aviv University’s Actor-Creator-Researcher Program. Noam has spent the past decade teaching, moderating and spearheading projects in the performative, musical and artistic fields. She writes for and directs theater groups of all ages as well as various festivals.

Actress, singer, vocal coach and voice instructor. Graduate of Tel Aviv University’s Acting Program of the Academy of Music in Jerusalem with a Master’s degree in the vocal department in classical singing. Among her works, the opera Serenade to the Spirit (Bergamo Opera House, Italy) and The Marriage of Figaro (Jerusalem Opera) as well as many acting roles (among them leading roles specializing in masks). Currently performing and singing in the musical “The Woman with Me” at the Hebrew Theater and will soon take part in a new production of “Macbeth”. Hila has many years of experience in voice coaching and vocal guidance in theater productions as well as in teaching acting and directing adult groups.

Performer and theater teacher. Independent creator, veteran member of the Scapino Ensemble and actress and creator at the Clipa Theater. Holds a Master’s degree from Tel Aviv University, in the Actor-Creator-Researcher program (2023) and a B.A in Directing and Theater Teaching from the Kibbutzim Seminar College. Graduate of the “Ha’Derech” School of Acting under Eyal Cohen’s management. Graduate of the Nelly Amar and Thierry Morel’s “Persona” School of Physical Theater. Rotem takes prt in several of Scapino Ensemble’s plays, for which she won the Golden Hedgehog Award in 2016 for her performance in the Ensemble’s production of ” The Love of Don Perlimplin and Belisa in the Garden.”
Among her independent works:
“Deep Shit” a solo performance created as part of the “We Are Not Alone” project at the Clipa Theater. “Woman. Animal” a performance of a woman and chronic pain, performed at the Clipa Theater. “Scrambled” a solo performance that premiered at the 2019 Theateronto Festival, the Stockholm Fringe Festival and Houston Texas, USA. The play was nominated for the “Play of the Year” and “Actress of the Year” awards at the 2021 Golden Hedgehog Awards. Creator of the performance “Sisyphus 2020″ (Outdoor performances at the Acre Fringe Festival 2021). Creator of the performance ” Parquet Azoulay – Born” directed by Asaf Moshe.

Creator, producer, and theater researcher. A second-degree theater student at Tel Aviv University, where he also received his bachelor’s degree. In 2010, Natan founded the “Theater in Rough” group, which performs a site-specific and cost-free Shakespearean play every summer in Jerusalem’s Bloomfield Garden. In 2017, he joined the “Great Gehenna Choir”, participating in various projects for the choir at different festivals in Israel. Natan studied at the Shakespeare & Co group in the United States and at Teatr Pieśń Kozła in Poland. He worked as a research assistant on various projects. Natan produced theater productions, festivals, virtual events, and conferences. Currently, he works as the IT Manager at the “EVE – Independent Theater Artists Organization, and serves as a technological consultant for the Scapino Ensemble and various artists.

Among his notable works in theater: acting in “Hamlet” (2018), “Measure for Measure” (2019); Composing and musically directing “Botanic Choir” (2021), “Julius Caesar” (2023); Co-creator of “Knowing – a Desperate duo-play” (2022); singer and creator in “Blindsight” (2018-19), “Tikkun Hatzot” (2019), “Shirei Derech” (2022), “The Welling” (2023); producer of “Tribuna” Festival (2016), “Tectonics” Festival (2017), the “Theater of Uncertainty” conference (2020); Producer and performer in the International Commedia dell’arte Day events – Israel (2021).

Video designer, director, photographer, consultant, and editor in theater and film. Among his works in theater: “Ubu” at the Tmuna Theater, “Demonstrate” at the Tel Aviv Museum, “Oresteia” at the Notzar Theater, “In Israel and Back” at the Yiddishspiel Theater, “Of Love and Friendship,” “The Father” at the Beit Lessin Theater, “Lost Honor,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Love-Sick on Nana Street” at the Cameri Theater, “10 Minutes from Home,” “Nina’s Story” at the Habima National Theater, “Grounded” at the TheaterNetto (2015), as well as numerous productions for children and family audiences in various theaters.