Arinzé Kene will star in Kohlhaas, a one-man show running August 27 through September 4, 2027, as part of Rupert Goold’s inaugural season as Artistic Director of the Old Vic in London.
Kohlhaas is an adaptation of Heinrich von Kleist’s 1810 novella Michael Kohlhaas, written by Marco Baliani and Remo Rostagno and translated and directed by Omar Elerian. The story follows a 16th-century horse dealer whose horses are wrongfully seized by a nobleman, sending him on a quest for justice that pulls him into direct conflict with the political establishment, with violent and far-reaching consequences. The production reunites Kene with Elerian following their Olivier-nominated hit Misty, and was originally produced by Brighton Festival to critical acclaim before transferring to the Old Vic.
Kohlhaas is one of four productions announced for Goold’s first season. Damian Lewis stars as Henry V in a new Shakespeare production running January 26 through March 27, 2027. Milly Alcock stars in the title role of Julie, a contemporary adaptation of Strindberg’s Miss Julie directed by Old Vic Associate Director Rebecca Frecknall, running April 10 through May 29. Goold himself directs Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Assassins from June 15 through August 21.
Goold called the season a reflection of “the Old Vic’s rich history of classical theatre, European repertoire and musical revivals,” adding that he hopes to draw on “this theatre’s storied legacy of sensational acting in groundbreaking and accessible productions.” The theater has also announced a new ongoing artistic partnership with Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, alongside a new discount ticketing scheme for audiences under 30, offering £20 front-row tickets for the first five previews of every main house show.
With Kene returning to the stage under the same creative partnership that earned him an Olivier nomination, Kohlhaas arrives as one of the season’s more quietly anticipated productions, built on proven chemistry rather than a brand-new collaboration.