Kohlhaas, performed solo by Arinzé Kene and directed by Omar Elerian, is a powerful adaptation of Heinrich von Kleist’s 19th-century novella, staged in the newly restored Corn Exchange. The play explores systemic injustice through the story of Michael Kohlhaas, a 16th-century horse dealer whose black stallions are seized and mistreated by a local baron. When legal avenues fail due to aristocratic corruption, Kohlhaas faces a moral crisis: to accept injustice or pursue violent retribution. The production, shaped by contemporary issues like the George Floyd protests, critically examines the limits of obedience and the transformation from principled citizen to insurgent.

Kene’s nuanced solo performance, supported by subtle effects and dynamic lighting, vividly portrays Kohlhaas’s evolution from naive merchant to hardened rebel, highlighting the personal cost of systemic failure. The lean, urgent staging invites reflection on the legitimacy of law when it serves the elite, questioning citizens’ loyalty to such systems. As Brighton Festival’s first original production in its 60-year history, Kohlhaas marks a significant theatrical milestone and suggests a continuing collaboration between Kene and Elerian.