SALVATION

A science fiction drag ritual and an experimental invocation for a constant distribution of desires based on visions and fantasies Shlomi Moto Wagner has experienced since he was three years old.

It explores transformations, mutations and re-manifestations of the idea of being, the sensuality of being a body, the politics of having a body and the poetics of sharing a bodily experience.

This solo music theater piece is a mythological and poetic reading of current pop culture and its academic discourse. Ancient Jewish texts and invocations and compositions of Hildegard von Bingen from the 12th century is newly arranged with pop hits, brand-new techno compositions and contemporary feminist texts. All of this makes the operatic performance a process of transformation.

Shlomi Moto Wagner is Mazy Mazeltov, is Wendy Williams, is Wisława Szymborska, is Fran Drescher, is Hélène Cixous and her Medusa is David Copperfield and Claudia Schiffer IN ONE BODY! And much, much more.

So, what is reality here and what is fiction? In times when a part of society wants to return to the gender roles of the 1950s, or even the 1940s, it is that much more critical to celebrate a festival of the imagination. Let's make magic. And what comes out at the end? A concert, a drag queen musical, a monologue slam, a magic show, a bar mitzvah or simply a party with the people? Are the props ready? Powder, lipstick and glitter? All right!

Previous Showings of SALVATION

• 16 Jun 2017Performing Arts Festival, Alte Münze, Berlin Premiere
• 28 Apr 2019ExPO Festival, English Theatre Berlin
• 6 Jul 2019Droste Festival, Burg Hülshoff
• 2–4 Nov 2022English Theatre Berlin, IPAC, Berlin
• 3–6 Oct 2024English Theatre Berlin, IPAC, Berlin
• 13 Jun 2025Unithea Festival, Kleist Forum (Studiobühne), Frankfurt (Oder)
• 18–20 Aug 2025Copenhagen Opera Festival, H20, Denmark
• 13 Sep 2025lila. queer festival, Fabriktheater, Rote Fabrik, Zürich, Switzerland

Credits

Special thanks to Jörg Albrecht and the Berlin Performing Arts Festival who supported the initial creation of this piece.