Carmel Yedid - Leibowitz
Interdisciplinary Theatremaker
Carmel is an Independent, interdisciplinary theatremaker. Born in Jerusalem.
In her recent work, she explores the intersection of contemporary theatre and documentary film and theatre, in search of new ways of storytelling for historical events and figures. Rooted in a fascination with long, investigative processes that place the actor's work at their core, her approach draws inspiration from the natural sciences and physics, both as philosophical frameworks and as visual influences, infusing in her work multiple mediums, she is trying to create a hybrid form that examines the boundaries of video and performance. She experiments with meta-theatrical and meta-performative structures, often drawn to themes of the “weak link” in society, gravitating towards narratives of individuals who struggle within group dynamics—whether through a trio aspiring to become a duo, a group seeking to exclude its weakest member, or a field intent on crowning its winners and losers. She is inspired by theatrical practices that delve into immersive realities, encouraging audiences to engage in layered, meditative experiences that challenge conventional storytelling and explore new languages in contemporary theatre.
Her piece, In The Beginning, is a video-theatre project which unfolds the story of the initial discovery of the dinosaurs in the 19th century and its conflict with creationism as well as the rivalry amongst the period’s leading scientific minds (HaMiffal, 2022).
Her piece Rasputin- is a spiritualistic encounter with Rasputin that tries to deal with the issue of Russian disinformation and propaganda through a historical perspective (Hamifal and Jerusalem design week 2023 at Hansen House).
She currently studies New-Media at Musrara-The Naggar Multidisciplinary School of Art and Society in Jerusalem and in the International MFA in Documentary Cinema program at The Steve Tisch School of Film & Television at Tel Aviv University. She also holds Bachelor's and MFA in theatre directing from the Faculty of Arts, Tel Aviv University and attended Freie Universität Berlin as part of her Erasmus year.
Directed the musical performance piece DE.GA by the composer Tal Smanon at the Felicja Blumental Festival, Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Directed the plays: Blue Remembered Hills, Old Times, A Kind of Alaska & Mougnon, Mougnon by Jeannine Worms. Participated in the project Keep Me in Mind led by German director Christina Friedrich. The project used testimonials of Holocaust survivors. Worked as a researcher for the international theatre project Geh Mir Aus Der Sonne by Israeli director Ofira Henig. Collaborated as a dramaturg with the artist Ari Teperberg in What Happened to My Voice? Finale at the School of Visual Theatre Jerusalem and Tmuna Theatre and in I Wanna Dance, Kate! , Acco Festival.
She is currently developing a documentary film about Polish theatre director Krystian Lupa, following his work process in "The Emigrants", inspired by a novel by WG Sebald at the Comédie de Genève in the summer of 2023.