Director Bastian Kraft, together with the ensemble and stars of Hamburg's drag scene, delves into the realm where biography and fairy tales intertwine to reveal new narratives of transformation and liberation.
Underwater, we see people blurred, shapes become indistinct, body boundaries dissolve, everything flows. The same thing happens in drag, the art form that breaks down gender roles with extravagant costumes and makeup, immerses identities in glitter and sequins, and above all offers a breathtaking show. Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale depicts a similar transformation: a mermaid falls in love with a human and wants to get rid of her fish tail. As we know, the fairy tale ends tragically. Perhaps it reflects Andersen's own fate, who was in love with his childhood friend throughout his life and was never able to live out this love. At the same time, it is a story as old as humanity itself, of nymphs, mermaids, and water spirits, of transformation and liberation from assigned roles.
Premiere February 27
Further performances: March 2, 8, 21, and 25, May 20, June 13 and 28, July 2, 2026
