On Thursday 6 March 2025, the new performance of Hotel Modern will première in Theater Rotterdam: THE FALL OF GRANADA

For seven hundred years, the south of Spain was part of a prosperous Moorish kingdom, in which Muslims, Jews and Christians lived together. The arts flourished, science flourished. In 1492, this came to an end, when Catholic Spain conquered the last Moorish city: Granada. What followed was a long process of persecution and expulsion of Muslims and Jews by the Spanish Inquisition.

With spectacular shadow play and compelling storytelling, Hotel Modern and Abdelkader Benali bring the world of Granada to life: the moving stories, the dances, the painful loss and the unimaginable climax of the Fall.

In 2023, Hotel Modern met Abdelkader Benali while working for the NTR television series Jan Janszoon, Piraat van de wereld. Benali was the narrator in the series, we made animations. This series – broadcast in February 2024 – tells the story of the 17th-century Haarlem native Jan Janszoon who migrates to Morocco, makes a splash as a pirate and converts to Islam. Through conversations with Benali, Hotel Modern became interested in the rich cultural and religious exchange between North Africa and Europe and the idea arose to make The Fall of Granada together.

Abdelkader Benali (Ighazzazen, Morocco, 1975) is a writer and programme maker, and is known for his work in which he explores the themes of identity, multiculturalism and migration. He writes novels, essays, columns and plays. Hotel Modern and Abdelkader Benali are making De Val van Granada together.

• Reviews & articles

• Tourdates The Fall of Granada

• Friday 4 April 2025 De Lieve Vrouw Amersfoort The Netherlands
• Thursday 10 April 2025 Groene Engel Oss NL
• Thursday 24 April 2025 De Maagd Bergen op Zoom NL
• View all our tourdates in the agenda

• Makers

• makers and actors Abdelkader Benali, Pauline Kalker, Arlène Hoornweg, Herman Helle, Jorn Heijdenrijk text: Abdelkader Benali and Hotel Modern live music Chris Saris assistance props, puppets and costumes Marsha Agerbeek, Juliet Campfens, Jacqueline de Maat, Jozef van Rossum, Barbara Witteveen help with research Ravyvano van Kralingen poster and flyer Superchagerijnig, Notdef theatre technicians Joost ten Hagen, Joris van Oosterhout, Pablo Strörmann thanks to Machiel Kunst, de Lichtbende business management Inge Kruithof publicity Michiel van Zuijlen administration Ariëlle Leenheer agent: Alles Voor de Kunsten   subsidy Performing Arts Fund, Municipality of Rotterdam