“We are just different from the others who only love in step with morality.” The „Lila Lied“ by Mischa Spoliansky was published more than 100 years ago and became the anthem of the world's first homosexual movement. It calls for the decriminalization of same-sex love and dreams of a happier future. "And soon, take note, overnight our sun will also shine. Then we will have won the same rights we will no longer suffer, but we will be accepted!"
This dream, however, was brutally destroyed when the Nazis came to power. From then on, homosexuals were threatened with death, queer subcultures and emancipation movements were completely wiped out. Persecuted in this way, numerous artistic personalities were forced to flee abroad. The works of these non-conformist artists were henceforth on the list of „degenerate art“ and were often forgotten after World War II. And yet the biographies and the art of these people could be an inspiration and driving force for the younger generation today.
The violent riots against the demonstrators in the first Pride Parade in Białystok, Spoliansky's birthplace in northeast Poland, in the summer of 2019 were a wake-up call for the artistic director Ludwig Obst, the gay son of Polish immigrants in Germany. Artists should use their voices more from their privileged position to counter the growing nationalism and the growing hatred of minorities, as otherwise our cosmopolitan coexistence in Europe can quickly endanger. The Weimar Republic and its downfall should be a constant warning to us.
"LILA LIED" is a multimedia queer cabaret that transforms the theater space into a circus ring. With chanson, electronic music, drag and burlesque, the biographies of forgotten queer-feminist artists of the 1920s are revived and bridges to current emancipatory movements such as the LGBT and women's movement in Poland are built through autobiographical elements.
CAST
Ludwig Obst ARTISTIC DIRECTION | PERFORMANCE
The Incredible, Edible Akynos PERFORMANCE
Hassan Dib aka Queen of Virginity PERFORMANCE
Diego Salles PERFORMANCE
Zosia Hołubowska aka Mala Herba SOUND DESIGN | PERFORMANCE
Nicky Miller VIDEO | PERFORMANCE
Vanessa Vadineanu COSTUME DESIGN | SET DESIGN
Valentin Schmehl DRAMATURGY
Elliot Douglas ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Leon Taege COSTUME & SET ASSISTANT
Jonas Radschuwait LIGHT DESIGN
Fraser Bowers SOUND ENGINEER
Elia Merguet PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT
Language: English (possibly with German and Polish surtitles) Duration: 90 min
A production by Ludwig Obst and team in cooperation with SchwuZ Queer Club, Schwules Museum Berlin and Theaterhaus Berlin Mitte. Supported by Fonds Darstellende Künste with funds from the German Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media as part of Neustart Kultur #takeaction. Co-funded by crowdfunding on Startnext. Partnership with Kostümkollektiv.
