The Long Shadow of Alois Brunner at Aviva Studios

Creative Tourist

Book now

The Long Shadow of Alois Brunner

Aviva Studios, Manchester
21-23 March 2024

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

The Long Shadow of Alois Brunner at Aviva Studios
Image courtesy of Tom Dachs.
Book now

Exploring searing questions around refuge, justice and hope, Collective Ma’louba present the UK premiere of The Long Shadow of Alois Brunner, a thought-provoking new play by Syrian playwright Mudar Alhaggi at Factory International’s Aviva Studios this March.

The Long Shadow of Alois Brunner investigates the true story of Alois Brunner, one of the most wanted Nazi criminals to escape sentencing. A key operative in the deportation of over 100,000 European Jews to concentration camps and ghettoes, Brunner was the object of many manhunts and investigations over the years, and he evaded numerous arrest attempts – fleeing to Damascus where he played a significant role in building Syria’s intelligence services. He is thought to have died sometime between 2001 and 2010 without ever being held accountable for his crimes.

The Long Shadow of Alois Brunner at Aviva Studios.
The Long Shadow of Alois Brunner at Aviva Studios. Image courtesy of Tom Dachs.

An autofictional work, Alhaggi’s play offers a speculative search for Brunner through a clever frame story. Arriving in twenty-first century Berlin as a refugee, Syrian playwright Mudar Alhaggi discovers Brunner’s story and begins to investigate it, before he disappears without a trace. This gripping play follows two actors when they arrive to rehearsals to find only Alhaggi’s research. Using the fragments of texts, historical documents and personal memories, they slowly piece together Alhaggi’s work. Weaving together Syrian and German history, The Long Shadow of Alois Brunner explores justice, exile, political memory and hope – alongside the complex thread that tethers the past to the present.

Mudar Alhaggi is a playwright, dramaturg and cultural activist, as well as founder and artistic director of Collective Ma’louba – an ensemble of Syrian theatre makers based across Germany and France. For this work, Alhaggi joins forces with the multi-award-winning Palestinian/Italian director Omar Elerian.

What's on at Aviva Studios

Where to go near The Long Shadow of Alois Brunner at Aviva Studios

Castlefield
Event venue
Old Granada Studios

Manchester’s old Granada Studios is an iconic piece of the city’s history and home to Sidney Bernstein’s television empire.

Manchester Opera House by Phil Tragen
City Centre
Theatre
Manchester Opera House

A commercial touring theatre, the Manchester Opera House is reopening in August 2021, all set to host the city’s finest mainstream theatrical productions, music gigs, opera and ballet.

City Centre
Music venue
Low Four Studio

Old Granada Studios has announced Low Four: a new studio and music project that will stream and archive live music performance as part of a new generation of music TV programming. The inclusion of a viewing balcony also means that these recordings, along with special events and concerts, will be made open to a few […]

Manchester
Restaurant
20 Stories

High-end restaurant and cocktail bar, with stunning views of the Manchester skyline.

Manchester
Gallery
Smolensky Gallery

This appointment-only gallery is a hidden gem in Manchester. Art lovers and collectors can browse many high quality pieces.

Manchester
Hotel
Moxy Manchester City

Moxy Manchester City is a stylish 146-bedroom hotel in Spinningfields, with an attractive living room lobby and modern, well-stocked bar.

What's on: Theatre

This is England at The Lowry
Until
TheatreMediaCityUK
Dear England at Lowry

Don’t miss James Graham’s Olivier Award-winning, big-hearted, ‘pitch-perfect’ celebration of football when it comes to Salford.

From £23

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester
Theatre in the North

Summer signals theatre festivals, world premieres and open-air spectacle - from MIF25 to comedy, outdoor circus and beyond, here’s what we’re looking forward to.

Harry Baker
Literature Events in the North

From environmental to experimental, our poetry and prose picks from around the North are focused on the unusual and the fun.

Exhibitions in the North

Captivating, urgent and intimate - we bring you our top exhibition picks, with even more art festivals, artist-led shows and new venues.

Helena Hauff
Music in the North

Shape-shifting bands, scorched-earth techno, and off-grid festivals. Our latest music picks catch the live scene at its most urgent, inventive and alive.

Cloudwater Production One
Tours and Activities in the North

Go forth with wild abandon to dance the pavements, dabble with the paint and down the pints in this month's tours and activities guide.

Classical Music in the North

Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.

A young boy with a white sash around his left arm cries.
Cinema in the North

Outdoor cinema announcements, a major retrospective at HOME, and the best of indie cinema.