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.

Temesgen Senbatu

Actor in the ensemble

Temesgen Senbatu was born in 1983 in Gondar, Ethiopia. He immigrated to Israel at age 9 and grew up in Bat Yam. From 2009–2012 he studied at the Derekh School in Givatayim, where he starred in several productions. He also participated in TV series “One Zero Zero” (2011) and “Virgins” (2014) as well as in the play “Sarei hamilhama” at the Habima Theater (2012). In addition to his participation in the Hullegeb Ensemble he is currently appearing in the plays “Pressure Cooker” of Haderekh Theater, “Hotza’a lapoal” at Tel Aviv University and “Leftovers” of Hanefesh Theater.

Adam Shpira

Actress in the ensemble

Year of birth: 1989
BA in dance and Teaching Certificate from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance.
Studied one semester at the HZT—the Inter-University Center for Dance in Berlin, and a year at the Sandciel School of Circus, Theater and Dance.
Dancer and independent clown in a variety of projects. Participated in productions for children with Machol Shalem Dance House and the Jerusalem Dance Theater.
Participated as a dancer in works by choreographers Ronnie Heller, Annabelle Dvir, Maayan Gur and Ruby Edelman.
Works in street clowning and character portrayals.
Primary school dance instructor.
Gives acrobalance workshops to groups.
In 2017 he joined the Hullegeb theater and is working on a new original production entitled Gi and Go

David Ziselson

Actor

David Ziselson (1988) is a graduate of GITIS, the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts in Moscow. Following his studies he joined the Gesher Theater and participated in numerous plays, including The Dibbuk, The Boy and the Dove, and The Good Person of Szechwan. In 2015 he joined the Theater Malenki, where he participated in a number of projects including The Snow Tale, The Pearl, and The Story and a Half. Ziselson teaches immigrants from Russia and the former Soviet Union in the framework of the Ministry of Immigration and Absorption and the Tel Aviv Municipality at Central Theater, acts in films and is involved in dubbing.

David Ziselson. Photo: Naomi Zlutin