Olivia Hyunsin Kim/ddanddarakim: Mr. Yellow – Sophiensæle | Independent Theater in Berlin

Olivia Hyunsin Kim/ddanddarakim: Mr. Yellow

Four people pose closely together in front of a textured wall. One person with bold makeup and a purple wig stands behind, while the other three look forward wearing colorful, patterned garments.
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Opera, drag, K-pop and personal stories intertwine in Mr. Yellow to create a multi-layered queer cabaret performance exploring the images, fantasies and projections that continue to shape Asian-perceived masculinity to this day. 

The dance performance examines colonial, racist and gendered stereotypes, asking how the figure of “yellow” masculinity has been historically constructed – and what new, empowering narratives are possible today. With humor and critical insight, colonial images of desexualized, feminized Asian men intersect with contemporary pop-cultural references such as K-pop and the global “manosphere.”

The international team – including drag artist Vivienne Lovecraft and trans tenor Holden Madagame (USA) – works in a queer-feminist, postcolonial, and interdisciplinary way between cabaret, concert and performative research.

Why does Asian-perceived masculinity remain often invisible or distorted in European imagery, narratives and stages? Which historical fantasies – such as the fear figure of the “Yellow Peril” – persist? And what happens when pop cultures like K-pop make new forms of masculinity visible?

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The information on accessibility is still in progress and will be updated as soon as possible. If any questions remain unanswered until then, please feel free to contact the communication department at barrierefreiheit@sophiensaele.com or 030 27 89 00 35. Please note that details may change by the day of the event. Therefore, if you find out after you have purchased your ticket that the performance is no longer accessible to you, you can contact us for a ticket return at ticketing@sophiensaele.com or 030 27 89 00 45 until 5 business days after the event (Monday through Friday between 10am and 6pm).

Early boarding

If, for artistic reasons, the door to the auditorium does not open until very shortly before the performance begins, there is the option of early boarding.

Tickets

  • Reservations can be made via the ticket telephone at 030 283 52 66, Monday to Friday from 4pm-6pm
  • Via the online ticket shop
  • At the box office

You can also find more information about accessibility at the house here.

Artistic direction, choreography, direction, performance: Olivia Hyunsin Kim
Artistic direction, video: Jones Seitz
Costume design: Kristin Gerwien
Costume & set collaboration: Luca Plaumann
Set design: Leo G. Alonso
Music, composition: Klaus Janek
Light design: Leo G. Alonso, Lou Oelrich
Artistic collaboration: Giulia Fornasier
Dramaturgy: Marielle Schavan
Performance: Vivienne Lovecraft, Holden Madagame
Access consultant, DGS: Hyemi Jolee
DGS interpretation: Aniella Tiedje, Mille Jepsen
Audio description: Swantje Henke, Birgit Martini
Production management: Christo Schleiff
Technical direction: Lou Oelrich
Photo documentation: Mayra Wallraff
Video documentation: Noam Gorbat
Press: Sarah Rosenau

A production by Olivia Hyunsin Kim/ddanddarakim in co-production with Sophiensæle. Funded by the Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion and the Fonds Darstellende Künste with support from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media. Media partners: Missy Magazine, Siegessäule, taz.

Olivia Hyunsin Kim/ddanddarakim work collectively on choreographic works with a queer-feminist and postcolonial focus. Through fiction, they renegotiate power relations and offer empowering alternatives to the present. Their works have been shown at Sophiensæle, Art Sonje Center, Staatsoper Hannover, Museo Universitario del Chopo, among others. The permanent team consists of Kristin Gerwien, Olivia Hyunsin Kim and Jones Seitz.

  • Four people pose closely together in front of a textured wall. One person with bold makeup and a purple wig stands behind, while the other three look forward wearing colorful, patterned garments.
    © Gedvilė Tamošiūnaitė
  • A person holds a microphone and speaks or sings in front of a densely patterned red floral backdrop. They wear a green patterned outfit and raise one arm to the side.
    © Gedvilė Tamošiūnaitė
  • A person with striking drag makeup and a purple curled wig stands against a dark, misty background. They wear a shimmering, semi-transparent garment in green and lilac tones with floral appliqués, holding their arms slightly outstretched.
    © Gedvilė Tamošiūnaitė
  • A person with short hair stands in front of a red floral-patterned wall, making a hand gesture while their mouth is open. They wear a sheer top with a graphic print and a patterned jacket.
    © Gedvilė Tamošiūnaitė
  • A person with short, light-colored hair looks directly into the camera against a dark, slightly misty background. They wear a top with photorealistic imagery and a loosely draped patterned textile.
    © Gedvilė Tamošiūnaitė