Basel Welcomes Nikolai Gralak to Theater Basel Stage
Nikolai Gralak, a celebrated character actor known for his compelling stage presence and nuanced performances, will make his debut at Theater Basel in the 2025/26 season wiht Christoph Marthaler‘s production of Gesellschaft mit besonderer Hingabe (GmbH).
Gralak began his professional career with Theater HORA in 2014,appearing in Mars Attacks!,a co-production with berlin’s Das Helmi foam puppet theatre. He quickly became a mainstay of the HORA ensemble, garnering a devoted following for roles in productions including Human Resources (2015), Die 120 Tage von Sodom (2016), Bob Dylans 115ter Traum (2018), Kotaktkiller (2018), Medea, die (2020), Planet HORA (2021), Theater der Klientinnen (2022), and riesenhaft in Mittelerde (2023)-all of which achieved cult status.
described as a natural talent who embodies characters with ease, Gralak’s acting style is characterized by its realism, dry wit, and a subtle leaning towards the sensational. He is noted for his minimalist physical approach, strong improvisational skills, and confident handling of text. Colleagues emphasize his artistic integrity, stating he is “absolutely incorruptible” in his artistic choices. Simone Gisler has lauded him as “a marvellous singer.”
Born in 1986, Gralak maintains a wide range of personal interests, including shopping, history, politics, and a particular passion for fantasy-collecting audiobooks and DVDs, and subscribing to Disney Plus since 2022.his interests also include time travel, zombies, and comedies.
