Jerusalem Khan Theatre, Repertory theatre in Jerusalem, Israel
The Jerusalem Khan Theatre is a repertory theatre near the old Jerusalem railway station, housed in a caravanserai built on the ruins of a Crusader-period inn. Its arched entrance, wide enough to admit pack animals, became the theatre's logo. The compound holds a main hall of 238 seats and a second hall of 71 seats.
The khan was built on the ruins of a Crusader-period inn, serving caravan travelers who reached Jerusalem after the Old City gates were locked for the night. It later housed a beer cellar and a carpentry workshop. In October 1967 Mayor Teddy Kollek secured money from the Gestetner Family Fund to restore the crumbling building as a theatre, keeping its arches and courtyards while installing 230 seats and modern sound and light systems.
The theatre takes its name from the khan, the caravanserai that once lodged travellers arriving after Jerusalem's gates closed. Its logo reproduces the broad arch of the entrance gate. The resident ensemble performs about five new productions a year, roughly 200 shows in its own halls and 70 more elsewhere in Israel. Since 2018 an annual children's theatre festival has been held in August.
The theater sits on a quiet street near the old railway station, reached by a paved path through the stone courtyard. Arriving a little early gives you time to walk around the outdoor spaces before a show begins.
The word "Khan" in the theater's name refers directly to its original function as a stopping place for merchants and travelers. This link between the building's past and present use is still visible in the structure of the courtyard, which kept the open layout of a traditional caravanserai.
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