Rehearsal images have been released for the world premiere of Kohlhaas, which opens the 60th edition of Brighton Festival and marks the Festival’s first original theatre production.
Directed by Omar Elerian and starring three-time Olivier nominee Arinzé Kene, the production runs at Brighton Dome’s Corn Exchange from 1 to 5 May, with a press night on 2 May.
Kohlhaas is a contemporary adaptation of Heinrich von Kleist’s 1810 novella Michael Kohlhaas, exploring injustice and the psychology of protest and resistance, and is especially created for the Corn Exchange space.
The production reunites Kene and Elerian for their first one-man show together since the Olivier Award-nominated West End hit Misty.
It is adapted by Italian playwrights Marco Baliani and Remo Rostagno, translated by Omar Elerian, with lighting and smoke effects design by Jackie Shemesh, installation and costume design by Ana Inés Jabares-Pita, and composition and sound design by Matthew Herbert.
‘If a man can break the circle of the world for just two horses, then it means that that circle can be broken at any moment…’
Set in 16th century Germany, Kohlhaas follows a horse dealer whose demand for justice after being tricked out of his horses escalates into an uncompromising and violent quest with far-reaching consequences.
Brighton Festival runs from 1 to 25 May and features over 100 events from more than 140 artists across theatre, dance, music, literature, visual art and debate.
The 60th edition marks a new era for the Festival, led by the Festival Programming team under Lucy Davies with Producing Director Beth Burgess, enabling the organisation to begin producing original work for the first time.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
