British actress Miriam Margolyes, who has appeared in numerous plays and films in Britain and Australia, was due to entertain residents at a Jewish Care old people’s home on Tuesday.

But late on Monday she got a call asking her not to turn up.

She believes it is because she is appearing in a play titled Seven Jewish Children next week, organised by the lobby group Australians for Palestine.

“I wouldn’t dream of appearing in anything that was anti-semitic, I loathe anti-semitism,” she told AAP.

“But I equally loathe any fascist attempt to muzzle dialogue about the situation in the Middle East which is catastrophic.

“I think Jewish Care have made a dreadful mistake, and I’m sorry because I’m a supporter of Jewish Care and they run a wonderful home there.”

She believed the eight-minute play, also featuring prominent actor Max Gillies, had been labelled anti-semitic because it accused Israel of making mistakes in its dealings with Palestinians.

The play features seven families and travels through history, starting with the Holocaust and finishes with a contemporary situation in Gaza.

“It’s not in any way anti-semitic but it’s highly critical of certain Israeli positions,” Ms Margolyes said.
She added if Jewish Care were to re-invite her, she would happily attend.

“I think it is one of our duties to be charitable and I’m just terribly sad that I’m not being given a chance to raise money for a Jewish old people’s home,” she said.

Jewish Care provides a range of residential care along with support services for elderly Jews still living independently.

Comment is being sought from Jewish Care.