About the ensemble

The Hullegeb Israeli-Ethiopian Theater ensemble, under the artistic direction of Moshe Malka, was established in 2004 at the initiative of Confederation House and the Ministry of Culture.

During their years of activity the ensemble’s actors and artistic director have consolidated an outstanding and very unique form of physical theater, which finds expression in all of their productions—whether based upon Ethiopian folktales, social issues and questions of identity, the Song of Songs, or European stage classics.

All of the ensemble’s works draw upon both Ethiopian and Western culture and have enjoyed the acclaim of audiences and critics and significant media attention and have received important awards.

The theater’s artistic and social aims are to provide a stage for actors of Ethiopian origin; to give expression to social distress and problems through artistic works; to show Israeli audiences the complexity and richness of the Ethiopian community in Israel; to create a quality and professional alternative theater on a high artistic level; involvement in the Ethiopian community through drama workshops for youth and the Hullegeb Israeli-Ethiopian Arts Festival; to deal with universal questions related to alienation, minorities, immigration, racism and class discrimination through artistic media.

Moshe Malka

Artistic director of the ensemble

Moshe Malka is an actor, director, playwright, acting instructor and Alexander Technique teacher. He began his career as an actor at the Khan Theater and later played in the Youth Theater, Habima, and the Itim Ensemble directed by Rina Yerushalmi. He developed a method of instruction for actors that combines Alexander Technique, actors’ tools, and Shakespearean texts. He likewise developed an original physical-clowning theatrical idiom called Zits. Through it he created street theater, modern clowning performances and plays without words. His plays have participated in festivals in Israel and abroad and have won prizes. In 2002 he directed the play “Blacks” by Jean Genet at the Acco Festival where it received an honorable mention. Malka also served as the artistic director of the Bat Yam International Street Theater Festival, created the play “Behind the Wind” at the Na Legaat Theater of the Deaf and Blind and teaches acting in various frameworks.

Getachew Huneghew

Getachew Huneghew, actor and dancer, was born in Ethiopia in 1988 and immigrated to Israel in 2006. He currently resides in Petah Tikva and works in multidisciplinary art. Huneghew joined the Israeli-Ethiopian theater group Hullegeb in 2020 and has since performed in the plays Strawberries, Come for Buna, and Stolen Dance.

Tehila Yeshayahu-Adghe

Actress in the ensemble

Tehila Yeshayahu-Adghe was born in 1973 in the village of Mai Lemomo in northern Ethiopia. She immigrated to Israel aged 10 in 1983 and grew up in Beersheba. She has lived in Jerusalem since 1994. She is a graduate of the School of Visual Theater (1999). In 2008 she joined the Hullegeb Theater Ensemble and starred in the one-woman play “On Her Own” which she performed on a tour in San Francisco. Since 2011, she is the house actress of the ensemble and has participated in all of its productions. Likewise, she played in the TV series “Mother’s Angel” (2016) and “The 1980s” (2016), among others, and in the films “The Ambassador’s Wife” (2016) and “Face to the Wall,” a short that competed for an Ophir Prize (2016). She participates in a variety of plays, holds acting workshops for children and youth at schools and community centers and has acted as MC at a variety of cultural events. Tehila is divorced and has a son and a daughter.

Samrat Haylu

Actress and dancer

Samrat Haylu was born in Ethiopia in 1989. She immigrated to Israel in 1991. Haylu lives in Jaffa and is involved in multi-disciplinary stage arts including fringe theater, contemporary dance, Amharic dance and hip-hop. She is also active writing and healing.

Photo: Yael Ilan

Zvika Hizikias

Actor, dancer and choreographer

Zvika was born in 1982. He is a graduate of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, specializing in classical ballet, jazz, and modern dance. He continued his training at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater School in New York. During his IDF service he was choreographer for the Army Ensemble of the Education and Youth Corps. He joined the Hullegeb Theater Ensemble in 2013 and participated in the plays: Tsufit Pikado, Seychelles, A Love Story by Chulot, and Gi and Go. In the past he was choreographer and artistic director of the Beita Dance Troupe. The performance Moments premiered at the Inbal Dance Theater. From 2002–2006 he was a member of Bat Sheva—The Young Ensemble. He recently played the main role in the film Lady Titi.

Yael Simon

Actress and dancer

Yael Simon (born 1996) is a graduate of Reacting Studio in Tel Aviv and studied performing arts in various frameworks. She appeared in the TV series Shtisel (3rd season) and in several other productions and student films. She danced in the Hora Jerusalem ensemble and has experience in modeling. After surviving the Nova Music Festival massacre on October 7th 2023, she participated in public relations activities in Israel and abroad. Yael plays the guitar and sings.

Photo Neriah Sasson
Makeup Noa Sherfler

Noa Niran

Actress

Noa Niran (1993) completed her acting studies at the Haderekh School of Stage Expression. She also studied dance and movement, voice lessons and dubbing. She has acted in various productions of the Cameri and Tmuna Theaters and joined the Hullegeb Theater Ensemble in 2021.

Photo: Sarai Oz

Srulik (Israel) Pniel

Actor

Srulik Pniel is an actor, graduate of the Nissan Native Acting Studio, various acting workshops and has studied pantomime and clowning. Pniel has played in numerous theater productions by the Khan Theater, the Incubator Theater, and the Akko Fringe Theater Festival, among others; he has appeared on television in programs including Jerusalem Beauty Queen and Eretz Goshen and in films including The Jerusalem Light Rail directed by Amos Gitai, Nisht in Shabbes, part of the 48 Hour Competition and Malkodet directed by Moshe Levi. Pniel is a musician and plays guitar and harmonica, appearing with his ensemble in a Bob Dylan tribute performance.

Photo: Chen Cohen

Avi Pomberg

Actor in the ensemble

Avi Pomberg was born in Israel in 1980. He lives in Tel Aviv. He is a graduate of the Yoram Levinstein Studio (2013). From 2013–2016 he studied acting at the Haderech Studio and in 2016 he did a year course in acting for camera under Ruth Dytches. He acted in the play Al kalut ha-da`t ve-tsviyut at Haderech Studio (2014), in the film Masa ha-taba`at (directed and written by Arik Lubetzky and Mati Harari, 2015), and in the Hullegeb Theater’s play Refugees (directed and written by Moshe Malka, 2016).

Heli Amresh Sanka

Actress in the ensemble

Actress in the ensemble.
Heli Amresh Sanka was born in 1987. From 2012–2015 she studied acting at the Haderekh School in Givatayim, and from 2009–2010 she studied at Teatron Haheder directed by Amir Oryan. From 2012–2015 she played in the TV series “Mother’s Angel,” “Sahkan Zar” and “Israel”. In 2014 she played in the Nefesh Theater’s “She’ariyot Mehahayim,” in 2015 she played in the play “Shoko-Vanil” at the Hebrew Theater and since 2016 has been a member of the Hullegeb Ensemble in which she played in “Mark of Cain.” She is involved in dance, acting and education in several frameworks. She has participated in street performances and commercials and has served as MC at various events.