Context - Introduction

The origins of Yiddish theatre can be found in the plays performed from the 16th century during the festival of Purim by purimspielers – travelling actors and musicians – in Jewish towns and villages in Eastern Europe.

The development of modern Yiddish theatre became possible as Yiddish developed as a literary language in the mid-19th century. Abraham Goldfaden (1840-1908) was instrumental in creating modern Yiddish theatre, forming a company which toured Russia and writing popular plays and music for performance.

In 1883 the Russian government banned all performances in Yiddish throughout the Russian empire, and Yiddish theatre actors and dramatists joined the mass migration to England, the United States and elsewhere.