ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Mark Gatiss stars in Brecht's The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui

opinion-review · 2026-04-04

Mark Gatiss delivers a commanding performance in Bertolt Brecht's political allegory The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui. The production presents Brecht's 1941 play that uses the rise of a Chicago gangster to critique fascism's ascent. Gatiss dominates the stage in this theatrical work that examines political manipulation through historical parallels. The Financial Times published a review of this staging of Brecht's cautionary tale about authoritarianism.

Key facts

  • Mark Gatiss stars in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui
  • Bertolt Brecht wrote the play in 1941
  • The play uses a Chicago gangster narrative to critique fascism
  • The Financial Times reviewed the production
  • The work functions as a political allegory
  • Gatiss delivers a powerful stage performance
  • The production examines authoritarian rise through historical metaphor
  • Brecht's play serves as a parable about political manipulation

Entities

Artists

  • Mark Gatiss
  • Bertolt Brecht

Institutions

  • Financial Times

Locations

  • Chicago

Sources