A performance re-imagining Chinese queerness

We proudly present to you the first ever Queer Dàn Fantasy. Eight queer persons of Chinese descent come together to experiment with a new queer performance form called Queer Dàn, which is a reference to Nan Dan (男旦), the male-female cross-dressing performance in Chinese opera*. But instead of reproducing the traditional Nán Dàn, which adheres strongly to heteronormative and patriarchal gender norms, Queer Dàn seeks to bring out the rich and diverse, but unacknowledged, narratives and representations of contemporary queers of Chinese descent.

Queer Dàn Fantasy is an attempt to activate an awakening in Chinese queerness, as well as expand the notion of queerness to include non-western queer experiences, expressions and histories. It is also an attempt to decolonize white queerness, which has dominated the public imagination for so long. Come join us in Queer Dàn Fantasy and let us bedazzle you, as we trash patriarchy and white supremacy away.

Queer Dàn Fantasy is the outcome of the project “Queer Dàn”, which is part of a longer artistic research, “S.O.A.R. Queen (Study of a Rice Queen)” that started in 2021. This is an event organised by and for BIPoC’s and queer people. However if you do not belong to any of these marginalised groups, your allyship is more than welcome.

*The term “Chinese opera” is a European misnomer for this performance format. The proper name should be Xì Qǔ / 戏曲 (pronounce: See Chee).

Performers: Andrea Tian Lei / 雷田, Jianyu Wang / 王建宇, Joan Ling-Li Nesbit-Chang / 常林丽, Lee Mun Wai, Liam Li / 李, Po-fu Wu / 吳柏甫, Sichi Li / 李思驰, Tim Chia Wu / 吳挺嘉
Artistic direction: Ming Poon / 潘伟明
Sound design: Sum-Sum Shen / 沈森森
Costume design: Tin Wang / 王锡盈
Make up: Adrian Blount
Light design: Rodrigo Campos
DJ: Yinan / 一南
Technical coordination: Haesoo Jung
Costume assistent: Xeonan Zhang / 张笑楠
Graphic Designer: Duy Hung Kieu
Photos: Olivia KWOK

PREMIERE
June 25, 2023

Vierte Welt
Adalbertstraße 96, 10999 Berlin

Co-production partners: Vierte Welt & MIFRUSH Production
Supported by Fonds Darstellende Künste with funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media within the program NEUSTART KULTUR