«My Father Passed away a Couple of Weeks Ago». On Boris Nikitin’s Hamlet

The essay delves into Boris Nikitin’s Hamlet with Julia*n Meding, centring on the theme of mourning and its portrayal within a radical reconfiguration of the ‘documentary theatre’ genre. Set against the backdrop of the ‘reality turn’ that has seen significant growth over the past two decades, particularly in Germanspeaking theatrical landscapes, Nikitin’s stage critically interrogates the power asymmetries inherent in documentary theatre. He introduces an artistic format that denaturalizes the concept of ‘reality’, presenting it as a constantly evolving horizon shaped by constructs. In doing so, he forges a form of ‘queer documentary’ that resonates deeply with Saidiya Hartman’s notion of «critical fabulation». The essay argues for recognising fiction not as an antithesis to reality, but rather as a vital tool to dismantle dominant narratives and to initiate alternative modes of knowing and analysis. This approach invites a critical examination of the boundaries between history and imagination, exploring the potential to reconstruct scenes of subjugation without perpetuating the grammar of violence.