Shar (Shachar) Shamai
Israel-born London-based Playwright, Lyricist, Composer, Director, and Vocal Coach.
After graduating with an MA in Classical Singing at the Jerusalem Academy of Music & Dance, he went on to study for his MA in Musical Theatre at Guildford School of Acting (GSA). After graduating from GSA Shar moved to London and has been teaching singing and vocal technique at various musical theatre academies such as PPA, ICMT, Urdang Academy and was invited to teach and lecture in Israel, The Netherland and Italy. Since then, he has worked internationally as a director as well as a vocal coach.
As a Founder and the Artistic Director of The JEWish Cabaret – Shar recently artistically directed and hosted two Hebrew poetry evenings, a comedy-cabaret and two migrant led cabaret evenings ins London. Previous to that the group’s original musical CAFÉ NAMED DESIRE has been invited to tour in Israel after a successful production in London. With his theater group, Shahar he is currently working on a new original musical called Stages, which deals with the experiences of immigrants from different backgrounds in London’s performing arts industry.
During the pandemic Shar artistically directed an anti-racism music video YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND in 22 different languages raising money for racial equality, and composed an original song called PLAGUES dealing with the reacting to the raise in racism during the pandemic.
Shar is currently collaborating as a playwright & lyricist on two new musical theatre pieces in Israel, the first, SONIA, is due to premier in December 2023 at the Haifa theatre - one of Israel’s biggest theatres. The second EXPOSED is currently under development. Shar recently traveled to Israel to direct a workshop of the piece and to vocal coach on the Israeli production of Waitress.
In addition to that Shar writes and composes in various styles and genres, in Hebrew Shar is also a published poet. A short film based on a cycle of three poems by Shar was commissioned to be premiered at Worchester’s Loud & Queer Festival 2023.