Acclaimed writer and performer Nick Cassenbaum presents his hit solo show Bubble Schmeisis, for the final time, with a limited run at Soho Theatre this May. Fresh from a sell-out extended run of his Fringe First-winning show, REVENGE: After the Levoyah, at the Yard Theatre; Nick invites us to join him in East London’s last remaining authentic bath house for one last splash.
A show Nick has performed more than 150 times, Bubble Schmeisis - directed by Danny Braverman (Wot? No Fish!!) - has not changed, but Nick has and so has the world. Now, to celebrate 10 years and to officially retire the show, he’s bringing the schvitz back to Soho.
Ahead of the run in London we sat down with Nick to discuss the show in more detail.
What can you tell me about Bubble Schmeisis?
Bubble Schmeisis is a storytelling show infused with klezmer music and steam. It’s based on my own experiences going to the last remaining schvitz ( steam bath) in East London. It’s a deeply personal piece that explores identity, masculinity, Jewishness, and the search for connection in unlikely places. There's a lot of warmth, humour, and a good dose of schvitzing.
Let’s go back in time—what first inspired the piece?
It all started when I visited the shvitz with my grandad. I was struck by how communal, surreal, and somehow sacred the space felt—like stepping into a forgotten world that was both utterly foreign and deeply familiar. That led me to start thinking about Jewish identity, inherited memory, and how we pass down stories. And of course, there’s something beautifully theatrical about steam rooms full of old men arguing in Yiddish.
It all started when I visited the shvitz with my grandad. I was struck by how communal, surreal, and somehow sacred the space felt—like stepping into a forgotten world that was both utterly foreign and deeply familiar. That led me to start thinking about Jewish identity, inherited memory, and how we pass down stories. And of course, there’s something beautifully theatrical about steam rooms full of old men arguing in Yiddish.
How did you approach developing the show?
The show is full of stories of me trying to find my Jewish identity and failing. So I made the show by practising telling them, all over the place. To the pub to the… schvitz. Then I put them all together with director Danny Braverman and musicians Josh Middleton and Daniel Gouly.
Fast forward to now, you’re celebrating the 10th anniversary of the piece. How have you approached this farewell run of the show?
It’s been emotional, to be honest. Bubble Schmeisis has grown with me over the years, and this final run feels like giving it a proper send-off. The show hasn't changed, but I have and the world has so has been very interesting doing it again. —over the last decade. Each performance now feels like a celebration and a goodbye all at once.
How has the feedback you’ve received helped shape the show and you as a performer?
The feedback has been overwhelming at times—people connecting deeply with the themes, sharing their own memories and stories. It taught me to trust vulnerability on stage, to listen closely, and to allow space for audience reflection. As a performer, it’s made me more open, more honest, and definitely more fearless about blending the personal with the theatrical.
Why does now feel like the right time to say farewell to the piece?
Ten years feels like a beautiful, round number. The world has changed, I’ve changed, and I feel ready to let the piece live on in people’s memories rather than keep it on life support. It’s had a good, long steam—and it’s time to hang up the robe and move forward.
What do you think this show has taught you over the last 10 years?
It’s taught me the power of specificity in storytelling—that the more rooted a story is in a particular culture or experience, the more universal it can become. I’ve also learned that humour and vulnerability go hand in hand, and that connecting with people—whether through laughter, memory, or music—is really what theatre is all about.
What was the first piece of theatre that had a big impact on you?
Jack and the Beanstalk at the palladium with Cilla Black! The interaction, the laughing, the joy.
What keeps you inspired?
People, mostly. The stories they carry, the way they talk, laugh, remember. I’m always inspired by the odd little details that reveal something bigger. And of course, music—especially klezmer—keeps my heart and creativity alive.
What do you hope an audience takes away from seeing Bubble Schmeisis?
I hope they leave feeling a bit warmer, a bit more connected to their own roots—whatever those may be—and maybe with a chuckle or two still lingering. I hope it sparks reflection on family, memory, and community. And ideally, I hope they’re tempted to find their nearest shvitz.
I hope they leave feeling a bit warmer, a bit more connected to their own roots—whatever those may be—and maybe with a chuckle or two still lingering. I hope it sparks reflection on family, memory, and community. And ideally, I hope they’re tempted to find their nearest shvitz.
Where can audiences see the show?
Soho Theatre 6th to the 10th May 2025!
Soho Theatre 6th to the 10th May 2025!
Tickets are available from https://sohotheatre.com/events/bubble-schmeisis/
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