Dorit joined the Faculty of Humanities at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, graduating with a B.A. in Theatre Studies. Subsequently, she completed her M.A. in Theatre Arts, graduating with honors from the University of Tel Aviv.
Dorit wrote plays and translated them to English. She also translated plays to Hebrew from English, French and German. She educated young adults to love art and theatre, wrote plays for youth, taught playwriting at acting schools, wrote poetry, prose, book reviews and more. Her contribution to the world of theatre is expressed in a wide range of creations and also both apparent and covert support of artists.
A unique characteristic of Dorit's playwriting is the form of "theatre within theatre" – within the realistic plot there exists an imaginary foundation. Usually the imaginary part reflects the inner world of the protagonist. Thus her plays combine interacting layers plot lines that explore the inner and outer realities of her characters. Using a fantastic setting to relate to the realistic matters her plays revolve around, Dorit creates a new language in her plays. Insisting on preserving the world of imagination in her plays, Dorit would decline repeated requests for popular realistic plays by several theatre companies in Israel.
An analysis of Dorit's writing over time shows development and renewal, with repeating motifs and a focus on current affairs. The majority of her plays deal with life in Israel - its history and past on the one hand and current events on the other; the Crusades, the 1929 Riots, the Holocaust, the 1982 Lebanon War, Operation Cast Lead (2008), terror attacks on buses, life in bomb shelters and so on.
A central topic in Dorit's plays was the search for love. Her plays will characteristically begin with a damaged relationship and a rehabilitation process is witnessed within the progression of the plot. Fantastic heroes, originating from the characters' inner world, come to their aid, acting as knowledgeable advisors, encouraging and steering them to the right path in life.
An attraction to life abroad, particularly England, appears in most of the characters in her plays (as in the playwright herself). The tensions between life in Israel and abroad, represents tensions within her personal-Zionistic viewpoint.
Dorit devoted much time to diligent research before writing each of her plays. The process included reviewing historical sources, reading relevant literature, travelling abroad, searching archives, and conducting personal interviews.
Often the stories of family members and close friends found their way into her plays.
Dorit Makleff leaves the world of arts a rich and diverse legacy of plays reflecting the inner world of Israelis living in the country and abroad.
This site was established to commemorate Dorit Makleff and her work.
Her plays are available for production freely, with the family's consent.
