Not the Messiah – based on the iconic movie “Life of Brian”
Monty Python
A comic oratory by Eric Idle and John Du Prez based on the iconic movie “Life of Brian”
Translated into German by Thomas Pigor
In German with German and English surtitles
Synopsis
Jesus Christ was not the only one who was born in a stable on this fateful Christmas Eve. In fact, so was Brian Cohen! The satirical oratory “Not the Messiah”, an adaptation of the 1979 Monty Python movie “Life of Brian”, tells the story of an “average man” who is mistaken for the messiah following a series of misunderstandings and coincidences. Brian tumbles from one disadvantageous and bizarre situation to the next; he is worshipped as a saviour by a sect and involuntarily becomes a religious figure.
The oratory humorously discusses human nature, the search for one’s own identity and the tendency to obey authorities without questioning them. With regard to music, catchy tunes meet classical organ and choir music, and the text is filled with irony and black humour. It is this contrast between solemn, religious sounds and absurd, comical tones that makes this work so special.
The humour of “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” is still unsurpassed. With “Life of Brian”, Monty Python turned the Bible upside down in 1979. In 2007, the makers of “Spamalot”, Eric Idle and John Du Prez, created a comic oratory based on the movie. Opera soloists, a choir and a symphonic orchestra tell the story of Brian, who is not the Messiah, through their music – including, of course, the famous song “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”.
With the stage adaptation, it has become common practice to present “Not the Messiah” in a semi-staged performance: As with a classical oratory, the focus is not on the dramatic performance but on the orchestra and the soloists. The production is staged by Carl Philip von Maldeghem.
Dauer: 1 h 50 min / one intermission
We offer introductory talks 45 and 30 minutes ahead of each performance.
Selected performance
Performances
Fr 05/15/2026 07.30 pm Tickets
Sa 05/23/2026 07.00 pm Tickets
Su 05/31/2026 05.00 pm Tickets
Th 06/11/2026 07.30 pm Tickets
Sa 06/13/2026 07.00 pm Tickets
Tu 06/16/2026 07.30 pm Tickets
Th 06/18/2026 07.30 pm Tickets
Sa 09/12/2026 07.00 pm Tickets
Su 09/20/2026 03.00 pm Tickets
Audio introduction
von Andreas Fladvad-Geier
Cast (on 12/06/2026)
Musical Director
Tobias Meichsner
Direction and Staging
Carl Philip von Maldeghem
Costume Design
Hanna Viktoria Saßen
Musical Preparation
Wolfgang Götz
Chorus Preparation
Mario El Fakih
Dramaturgy
Andreas Fladvad-Geier
Assistant to the Director
Simone Schuster
Cast is not yet announced.