Hamlet at the Old Cinema Franklin: Shakespeare's tragedy meets the present

Hamlet in Mannheim: Shakespeare's tragedy captures the spirit of the present

Intrigues, surveillance, extravagant parties, and a young person searching for belonging: Nuran David Calis’ staging of William Shakespeare's Hamlet transforms the famous revenge drama into an intense generational drama. On October 1, 2026, the audience at the Old Cinema Franklin will experience a theatrical performance that raises questions about identity, truth, community, and how to deal with experienced injustice.

A prince between grief, anger, and resistance

Hamlet's father is dead, his mother Gertrude marries Claudius, the brother of the deceased, and the new king ascends the Danish throne. When Hamlet suspects that his uncle has murdered his father, a spiral of observation, deception, and revenge begins. Calis focuses on a young person who is breaking under the expectations of family, society, and tradition.

A contemporary staging with its own language

The dramaturgy combines Shakespeare's verses with contemporary dialogues by Nuran David Calis. The shift in language modes reflects the characters' inner turmoil and brings the classic directly into the present. Direction and video are by Calis, the set design was created by Irina Schicketanz, and costumes were designed by Anna Sünkel. Lighting by Robby Schumann and music by Vivan Bhatti enhance the theatrical atmosphere into a thrilling stage space.

Shirin Ali as Hamlet

Shirin Ali embodies Hamlet as an insecure, overwhelmed young person whose anger lacks a clear direction. Her acting makes the inner conflict physically palpable: grief tips into aggression, doubt into activism, the desire for justice into a destructive consequence. Rheinpfalz describes the character as a seeker who is increasingly getting lost, while the industry journal Theater heute highlights Ali's great emotional range.

A set for a world in crisis mode

The staging unfolds a sensual stage experience between exuberant festive atmosphere and oppressive surveillance. Light, music, and video create changing perspectives on a society in which no one can be sure who is being watched, lied to, or manipulated. The audience's reaction is thus directed not only towards the tragedy of the Danish prince but also towards the contemporary experience of an exhausted, insecure generation.

Important notes for the theater evening

The performance lasts 2 hours and 40 minutes, including an intermission, and is presented in German. Strobe lights and depictions of murder will be used. Additionally, the production addresses domestic and racial violence. A brief introduction begins at 6:30 PM.

Conclusion: Hamlet as an immediate contemporary drama

This Mannheim production confronts Shakespeare not as a museal classic but as an open field of conflict. The audience can expect a concentrated stage experience full of questions, friction, and emotional power. Those who experience theater as a place of confrontation, sensory perception, and collective reflection should see Hamlet live at the Old Cinema Franklin.

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Sources:

• Nationaltheater Mannheim – Hamlet, schedule and press reviews
• Nationaltheater Mannheim – Hamlet, production information
• Nationaltheater Mannheim – Schedule Old Cinema Franklin
• Theater heute – Where is the Achilles' heel?
• Mannheim.de – Hamlet at the Nationaltheater Mannheim