EF_FEMININITY (2018) 
MARCEL SCHWALD & CHRIS LEUENBERGER

When they were kids Marcel Schwald and Chris Leuenberger wanted to be girls. Up to this day they are still fascinated by the ways and wiles attributed to the female gender – especially when these behaviors are practiced as a means to self-empowerment and as a political statement.

In India where gender identities beyond the binary have a far-reaching history, they got in touch with the radio journalist Shilok Mukkati, the performer Living Smile Vidya and the choreographer Diya Naidu – all activists fighting for the recognition of their own femininities. In EF_FEMININITY they join forces to explore and question femininity, hyper-femininity and effeminacy.

After their production KREUTZBERG (2015), dealing among other things with homosexuality in World War II, Schwald/Leuenberger once again interweave elements of journalism and choreography for a documentary dance performance.

artistic direction Marcel Schwald, Chris Leuenberger choreography, performance Shilok Mukkati, Diya Naidu, Living Smile Vidya, Chris Leuenberger outside eyes Joshua Muyiwa, Kirtana Kumar, Anne Haug, Lukas Acton dramaturgical advice Merel Heering costume Salome Egger music Thomas Jeker lights & technical direction Thomas Kohler production (India) Sandbox Collective production (Switzerland) Sabine Jud

a production by Schwald / Leuenberger in co-production with Dampfzentrale Bern and Kaserne Basel, accompanied by Danse & Dramaturgie, a project initiated by Théâtre Sévelin 36, in collaboration with Dampfzentrale Bern, Tanzhaus Zürich, TU-Théâtre de l’Usine, ROXY Birsfelden.

funded by 1 Shanthi Road Studio Gallery Bangalore, Fachausschuss Tanz & Theater BS/BL, Stadt Bern, Kanton Bern,  SSA – Société Suisse des Auteurs, Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, Shoonya Centre for Art and Somatic Practices Bangalore, Migros Kulturprozent, Südkultur Fonds, Burgergemeinde Bern, Gesellschaft zu Ober-Gerwern.

thanks to Adishakthi Theatre Arts Residencies, Infinite Souls Residencies Bangalore 

past performances

February 2021 Southeast Asia Tour POSTPONED

October 2020 Festival Gender Bender, Bologna www.genderbender.it CANCELLED

22, 23 June 2020 Theater Festival Naples (IT) napoliteatrofestival.it POSTPONED

27, 28 March 2020 Sophiensaele Berlin (DE) sophiensaele.com CANCELLED

10 – 14 July, 16 – 20 July 2019 Sélection Suisse en Avignon (FR) selectionsuisse.ch

15, 16, 18, 20, 21 June 2019 Impulse Festival Düsseldorf (DE) impulsefestival.de

18 – 22 October 2018 Kaserne Basel (CH) kaserne-basel.ch

15, 16 October 2018 théâtre Grütli Geneva (CH)  grutli.ch

3 June 2018 théâtre Sévelin 36 Lausanne (CH)  theatresevelin36.ch

5, 7 April 2018 (Premiere) Dampfzentrale Bern (CH) dampfzentrale.ch