The House of Schmutter Festival

The House of Schmutter opens its doors to you ... step inside to explore the tastes, sights and sounds of the Jewish East End.

Served up will be a delectable feast of music, film, storytelling, taster tours, crafts and workshops, accompanied by a boxing ring, bagels and pickling!

Don’t know your babka from your bublitchki? Relax. We’ll give you a ‘Yiddish blaggers guide’ to make you feel at home… leaving you free to enjoy the entertainment:

On the main stage there will be performances from multi-award winning ensemble Don Kipper as well as The Cockney-Yiddish Music Show weaving tales of the Yiddish East End through song. Rachel Rose Reid and David Harrod conjure up the ghosts of the East End through storytelling and there will be music from a Yiddish Quartet. Put your feet up and watch the critically acclaimed documentary ‘Cable Street to Brick Lane’ with a Q&A with the filmmakers Hazuan Hashim and Phil Maxwell, a pertinent film uncovering the political significance of iconic East London streets and the stories of the different communities that came together in the 1930’s, 1970’s and 1990’s to challenge racism and intolerance.

Rich Mix’s Main Space offers a hands-on experience with craft workshops and a foodie feast including our own heart-warming soup kitchen and foodie fun where you can have a go at pickling. There will be debates and discussions with ‘human books’ to chat to and polish up your knowledge, a ‘schmutters’ rags textile workshop and even the opportunity to throw some punches in our boxing ring!

Join a taster tour and hit the streets to explore the history of the Jewish Community in the area around Rich Mix with a series by award-winning tour guide Rachel Kolsky, featuring everything from bagels to synagogues.

The whole day celebration is free and open to all ages, if you’re coming with kids and families we particularly recommend the activities in the Main Space from 1pm-6pm.

So have a pickle, get your klezmer-dancing shoes on and pack a punch at The House of Schmutter Festival!