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Premiere of Holmes: The Moriarty Case – excitement and humor combined!
On November 6, 2025, “Holmes: The Moriarty Case” celebrated its premiere at the Kammerspiele der Josefstadt – a humorous adaptation with a star-studded production.
Premiere of Holmes: The Moriarty Case – excitement and humor combined!
On November 6, 2025, the play “Holmes: The Moriarty Case” by Ken Ludwig celebrated its exciting premiere at the Josefstadt Kammerspiele. The Austrian premiere brought the legendary character Sherlock Holmes back to the stage and attracted a high number of ticket buyers in advance, even before the first reviews were published. Loud onlinemerker.com people have a great interest in revisiting Arthur Conan Doyle's classic stories, which have been adapted many times in various media, most recently in a modern TV series by the BBC.
The plot of the new play begins at an important point: Sherlock Holmes survives the famous Reichenbach Falls and begins a relationship with Irene Adler. This is where things get particularly exciting, as the King of Bohemia turns to Holmes for help with his secret love affair with Miss Adler. This affair could have not only personal but also political consequences. Professor Moriarty, once Holmes' mentor and now his archenemy, is pulling the strings in the background. The story quickly escalates into a captivating game of love, betrayal and crime, where the emotional connection between Holmes and Dr. Watson is of central importance. The Josefstadt program also emphasizes that Holmes develops real feelings here, causing his logical way of thinking to falter.
The staging
Dominic Oley stages the piece with a small but very versatile ensemble. A total of five actors take on 40 different roles, with Claudius von Stolzmann as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Niedermair as Dr. Watson embody the main characters. Markus Kofler delivers an impressive performance with his many alternating roles, including as King and even Moriarty. Kimberly Rydell as Irene Adler and Michaela Klamminger, who plays a variety of characters and dialects, are also part of the ensemble.
The play's design contributes to the dynamic atmosphere: moving decorations, designed by Judith Leikauf and Karl Fehringer, support the fast-paced narrative and the boulevard theater character, which is traditionally well received in the Kammerspiele. The play's humorous approach is reminiscent of Patrick Barlow's production in "39 Steps", which is particularly appreciated by the audience.
Sherlock Holmes in pop culture
Sherlock Holmes is not only a character from Arthur Conan Doyle's novels, but has also established himself as a cultural phenomenon in his own right. From the classic stories to modern adaptations, such as the hit BBC series Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, the famous detective continues to impress a wide audience. This series, which aired from 2010 to 2017, was instrumental in reviving interest in the original works, which was also reflected in sales of the books. The strong dynamic between Holmes and Watson and the clever plotting are enduring elements that make the character timeless and are brought to bear again in “Holmes: The Moriarty Case.”
With an exciting mix of well-known elements and new perspectives, Ken Ludwig and the ensemble manage to present a piece that not only appeals to lovers of classic detective stories, but also captivates new viewers.