The Great Divide
Jun 23, 2024 - Jun 30, 2024
| Studio
A Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre production
Written by Alix Sobler
Yiddish translation by Aron Gonshor and Edit Kuper
Directed by Trevor Barrette
A Yiddish language premiere!
Right before the end of the work day on Saturday, March 25, 1911, tragedy struck the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory located on the lower east side of Manhattan as a fire erupted on the 8th floor. In a mere ten minutes, 146 lives were lost, mostly young women and recent immigrants.
The Great Divide by Alix Sobler offers a poignant insight on the immigrant and refugee experience of the early 20th Century. Winner of the 2015 Canadian Jewish Playwriting Competition, it highlights the profound sacrifices made by those who sought opportunity and a fresh start across the ocean.
A talkback with the cast follows each performance.
Limited complimentary tickets are available for students, thanks to the Foundation for Yiddish Culture.
For more information, please write sslapak@segalcentre.org
Lisa’s Note 
Alix Sobler’s The Great Divide is not just a performance; it’s a vibrant testament to the enduring spirit and relevance of Yiddish theatre. Presenting a new Yiddish translation of a contemporary play that delves into historical events with striking relevancy to today is truly momentous.
Yiddish is a language rich in history and resilience, one that we are intentionally preserving and celebrating. Just as artists and activists have paved the way for change, Yiddish theatre has boldly navigated the complexities of our Jewish experience, often universal and with humour and levity. It’s now time to show the next generation what we can achieve and how we can continue this legacy.
I’m incredibly proud of our company’s extraordinary work. Our cast, many of whom were initially unfamiliar with Yiddish, have embraced this challenge with remarkable dedication. Under the stunning leadership of Trevor Barrette, the entire team of professionals and volunteers have brought this production to life with passion and commitment. Their efforts are truly beyond words.
Please consider supporting us so we can continue to keep Yiddish theatre alive and thriving. Your support is vital in ensuring that we can share more stories, celebrate our heritage, and look forward to an exciting future together.
Thank you for being here and for being a part of this journey with us.
Lisa Rubin
Artistic & Executive Director, Segal Centre
DWYT'S NOTE
We have been haunted by The Great Divide since we first read it but we never could have imagined the era-jumping masterpiece that you're about to experience. You will be provoked, touched and entertained by this important play that has been brilliantly removed by Trevor Barrette from any possible box fit for a play about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, lovingly translated into Yiddish by the DWYT’s own Aron Gonshor and Edit Kuper, and inhabited with enormous dedication and respect by these five beautiful young actors. The DWYT is extremely proud to present this meaningful story about the past which we hope will incite thoughtful discussion to work towards healing some of the great divisions plaguing us right now.
On behalf of the entire Yiddisher grupe,
Jodi Lackman & Jesse Krolik
Co-Presidents of the Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre
Director's Note
Freedom is not the right to live as we please, but the right to find how we ought to live in order to fulfill our potential. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of March 25, 1911, stands as a harrowing reminder of the fight for workers' rights. This tragedy claimed 146 lives, primarily young immigrant women, and exposed the harsh realities of early 20th-century labor conditions. It lit the spark for a revolution, led by some badass Jewish women!
In this production, we bring their stories to life, loud and raw. Each character isn't just a victim—they're a beacon of hope and radical resilience. Through their eyes, we witness their defiance, the dreams they harbored, and the connections they forged in the bustling garment district of Manhattan.
This show is more than a history lesson; it's a battle cry for empathy, justice, and the never-ending fight for equity. It's a celebration of the strength and courage of those who stood up for their rights and paved the way for future generations.
Thank you for joining us as we cross the great divide. We hope this story inspires you to fight for a more just and humane world.
Trevor Barrette
Director of The Great Divide
Audience Advisory
The Segal Centre acknowledges that some content may be difficult for some people. We want to provide audiences with the information to care for their well-being and decide what is appropriate for their children. Should you be unsure based on the advisory, please contact us and we will be happy to help you with your decision.
Age-based restrictions are recommendations only.
Please note that babes in arms or children under the age of two (2) are not permitted in the theatre unless expressed permission is given by the theatre.
- Use of theatrical haze and water-vapour smoke
- Contains acts of staged, physical violence
- Graphically describes a fire scene and death
Running time is 2 hours without an intermission.
Cast
(in alphabetical order)
Rosa ELLA DEUTSCH
Sadie, Sophie, Clara, & Others CAROLINE GAUTHIER
Jacob, Avram & Others BRAM LACKMAN-MINCOFF
Manya & Others TESSA LUPKOWSKI
Max, Samuel & Others DAVID PETERMAN
Creative team
Playwright ALIX SOBLER
Yiddish Translators ARON GONSHOR and EDIT KUPER
Director TREVOR BARRETTE
Assistant Director ABI SANIE
Set Designer BRUNO-PIERRE HOULE
Costume Designer SABRINA MILLER
Lighting Designer TIM RODRIGUES
Sound Designer JULIAN SMITH
Fight and Intimacy Director CARA REBECCA
Stage Manager TREVOR BARRETTE
Assistant Stage Manager SARAH ALEVY
Apprentice Stage Manager ORION HAUSKNOST
Music Consultant J-ROB
Movement Consultant KRYSTINA DEJEAN
Yiddish Language Diction Coaches RIVKA AUGENFELD, BRONNA LEVY, AND SAM STEIN
Technical Team
Head Technician, Studio & Head of Lighting – Natalie Demmon
Sound Operator – Jeremy Barrs
Supertitle Operator – Jodi Lackman
Head Carpenter – Stephen Schön
Associate Carpenter – Joseph Baron
Head Scenic Painter – William Patrick
Painters – Jessica Mensch & Camille Picher
Head of Props – Fruzsina Lanyi
Head of Wardrobe – Louise Bourret
Head Dresser – Rachel Quintero Faia
Set-up and Strike Crew – Sabrina Balliana, Gordon Barnett, Julia Carrier, Camille Lapointe, Andrea McMillan, David Paluch, MacKenzie Poole, João Veloso
"First performed at the Finborough Theatre, London. Neil McPherson, Artistic Director"
THE GREAT DIVIDE is produced by special arrangement with THE GERSH AGENCY, 41
Madison Avenue, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10010
Special Thanks
Barbara Seal, C.M., The Charles, Evelyne and Sandra Dolansky Foundation and the volunteers of the Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre
Emerging artists generously supported by The Jonathan and Susan Wener Family Foundation