Kafka in Palestine

by Inez Hedges

Kafka in Palestine is an imaginative retelling of the friendship between Franz Kafka and his sister Ottla in the early 20th century. They dream of escaping their authoritarian father by moving to the idealized Palestine they have read about in the writings of the Zionist visionary Theodore Herzl. But reality intervenes (Franz’s fatal illness, Ottla’s deportation to the concentration camp of Terezin) until the...

Kafka in Palestine is an imaginative retelling of the friendship between Franz Kafka and his sister Ottla in the early 20th century. They dream of escaping their authoritarian father by moving to the idealized Palestine they have read about in the writings of the Zionist visionary Theodore Herzl. But reality intervenes (Franz’s fatal illness, Ottla’s deportation to the concentration camp of Terezin) until the siblings are magically reunited in the troubled landscape of the modern era. There they have to deal with the ongoing struggle between Israelis and Palestinians over the land and human rights. There are also appearances by Herzl, by an Israeli soldier, a modern Palestinian couple, and several creatures from Kafka’s stories.

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Kafka in Palestine

Roles and Descriptions (can be played by 6-7 actors; Herzl and Nazi Kommandant should not be played by the same actor)
Franz Kafka, from age 18 to 35. A tortured genius who wants to escape his authoritarian father and move to Palestine.
Ottla Kafka, from age 21 to 50. Franz’s favorite sister who cares for him when he contracts TB; she dies in a concentration camp.
Hermann Kafka, the father, age 63.
Julie Kafka, the mother, age 65.
Theodor Herzl, age 40. One of the founders of Zionism.
Mole, indeterminate age/gender. Franz’s creative demon/guardian angel, later a creature
of Franz’s imagination (based on the short story “Der Bau” or “The Burrow”), an
Israeli soldier, etc.
Sarah, indeterminate age. A friend of Ottla’s in the concentration camp of Terezin. Simon, 50s. An artist in Terezin
Terezin camp Kommandant, 40s (male)
Military Judge in the occupied territories, 40s (male)
Various short roles in the final scene: A General (male), a Prime Minister (male or
female), a Journalist (male or female) the Emperor’s Messenger (male),
(indeterminate gender/age; based on the short story “Investigations of a Dog”) Fared K. and Leila, Franz and Ottla transformed as Palestinians

Production History

  • Community Theater, Boston Playwrights Platform Festival (Tel Aviv scene), 2019
  • Community Theater, Community Church of Boston, 2018
  • Professional, Playhouse Creatures Equity Staged Reading, 2017
  • University, Northeastern University Department of Theatre Staged Reading, 2017
  • Workshop, TC Squared Playlab Workshop and Table Reading, 2017