Stories of St Kilda’s Jewish diaspora

Volume 7 Number 3 March 14 - April 10 2011

Melbourne writer, broadcaster and musicologist Thérèse Radic has authored a new play about Café Scheherazade and St Kilda’s Jewish Diaspora. By Ben Starick with Katherine Smith.

The story of St Kilda’s legendary Café Scheherazade has come to life in a new show this month at fortyfivedownstairs, written by Melbourne Conservatorium of Music Honorary Principal Fellow Thérèse Radic, based on Café Scheherazade the best-selling 2001 novel by Arnold Zable.

Associate Professor Radic has been a lecturer, broadcaster, and music consultant for a wide range of Victorian arts organisations, and is the author of numerous books and plays. Café Scheherazade is the sixth of her plays to come to life on stage, the first being 1982’s A Whip Round for Percy Grainger.

“I was inspired to write the play when I first read Arnold’s book,” Associate Professor Radic says.

“It originated as a three-hour script that was read in 2006 at my house, and after many rewrites, we are now under way with a ninety minute premiere!”

The context of Café Scheherazade is in the history of the Jewish diaspora and the journeys and stories of European refugees who came to Melbourne in the 1960s.

Avram and Masha Zeleznikow were the proprietors of the real and legendary Café Scheherazade that operated from 1958 to 2008, and Avram is a survivor of the Vilna Ghetto in Poland, from which many thousands of Jews were sent to perish in Nazi concentration and slave labour camps during the second world war.

The Zeleznikow’s café became a refuge for Jewish migrants including Yossel Bartnowski, Laizer Bialer and Zalman Grintraum who feature as characters in the play – as well as Martin, a journalist based on Zable, who is drawn in over time to share the passion and perspectives of the café storytellers and their journeys to survival.

The real Café Scheherazade is now closed, but its reputation and influence still crosses Melbourne’s cultural communities and generations.

Associate Professor Radic says the café had a reputation as a warm and safe meeting place with lively conversation and famous recipes of chicken soup and black forest cake.

“My hope is that the play reveals some of the poignant, and often humorous, stories of its patrons, and resonates with Melbourne’s culture and history as well as reflecting the courage and resilience of refugees and asylum seekers everywhere.

“Café Scheherazade is a love story woven through recollection, reminiscence and music – a celebration of survival and courage.”

Arnold Zable is delighted his novel has inspired the stage production 10 years after it was published.

“I’m looking forward to not only a celebration of the book, but to seeing Therese’s moving script and Bagryana’s theatrical flair on stage.”

Mary Lou Jelbart, fortyfivedownstairs’ artistic director, said: “These are such inspirational stories, based on the strength and resilience of the café’s founders and that of the men who found a home from home in the café. We are excited to bring these marvellous characters to a new audience,” she said.

Café Scheherazade is produced and presented by fortyfivedownstairs and is supported by the Sunraysia Foundation, Arts Victoria, City of Melbourne, the Besen Foundation, The Pratt Foundation and the Kronhill Pletka Foundation.

Season: 8 March – 3 April (no performance Friday 11 March). 8pm Tue-Sat, 5pm Sunday, 2pm 10 March.

http://www.fortyfivedownstairs.com/