«Walwerdung»

A musical-theatrical evening about becoming a mother and longing for the gentle giants of the seas. While a new human being grows inside her belly, a woman transforms herself into a whale. With live music, projections and a giant cushion that unfolds into a fin, she tells of bodily change, vulnerability and feminist rage. Iris Keller and Xenia Wiener invite the audience on a sensual journey of discovery through the sea and motherhood. Between whale songs, the pain of childbirth and the whirring of breast pumps, an intense dialogue emerges about humans, animals and role models.

With

Iris Keller (Performance); Xenia Wiener (Composition); Ruth Huber (Director); Iulia Andreea Smeu (Technology/Light Design)

Program

Iris Keller (1988): Roman «Walwerdung» (2025) Geparden Verlag Zürich
Xenia Wiener (1991): Original Composition

Info

Trigger warning: A birth process with complications is described in detail.

The concert will be followed by an audience discussion.

Duration

70 minutes, no break

Links

→ iriskeller.org
→ xenia.audio
→ ruthhuber.ch
→ iulia-andreea-smeu.com