Tel Aviv Theater Awards 2025 Honor 'Rhinoceros' as Best Play

The inaugural Tel Aviv-Jaffa Theater Awards ceremony took place on Sunday evening, with the play "Rhinoceros" emerging as the big winner by receiving the Best Play award. Directed by Yair Sherman and staged at Beit Lessin Theater, "Rhinoceros" also won awards for costume design and lighting. The event was hosted by the Cameri, Habima, Gesher, and Beit Lessin theaters and held at the Habima National Theater, which presented artistic segments from various productions including "Priscilla Queen of the Desert," "Crust," "Dear Evan Hansen," and "West Side Story." The ceremony was hosted by Nelly Tagar and Alona Sa'ar.

The awards ceremony was established by the Tel Aviv municipality to promote its local theaters after the Israeli Theater Awards, which operated nationally from 1995 to 2018, were discontinued following the dissolution of the Israeli Theater Academy. The decision to limit the awards to Tel Aviv theaters drew criticism from theaters in Be'er Sheva and Haifa, who called for a more inclusive national celebration.

During the event, Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai emphasized the vital role of theater and culture in a democratic society, highlighting their importance in fostering criticism and human connection. Poet and translator Aharon Shabtai received a lifetime achievement award for his longstanding contributions to Israeli culture and theater.

Other notable winners included Dvir Bendek for Best Leading Actor in "Leviathan" (Cameri), Norman Issa for Best Supporting Actor in "The Caucasian Chalk Circle" (Habima), and Nikita Goldman as Breakthrough Performer for "Mother Courage and Her Children" (Gesher). The Best Play award was shared among "Souls" (Gesher), "Rhinoceros" (Beit Lessin), "Singer" (Cameri), "A Streetcar Named Desire" (Cameri), and "Mother Courage and Her Children" (Gesher). The full list of winners spanned categories such as acting, directing, set design, lighting, costumes, translation, and music.

Eli Bizhawi, winner of the translation award for "The Caucasian Chalk Circle," expressed hope that Israeli theater would continue to courageously confront reality. The ceremony marks a renewed effort to celebrate theatrical excellence within Tel Aviv, despite ongoing debates about the scope and inclusivity of such awards in Israel.