PERMANENT DESTRUCTION - THE HM CONCERT

In Permanent Destruction - The HM Concert theatre-maker / performer Naomi Velissariou and sound producer Joost Maaskant confront themselves with the uncompromising work of German playwright and director Heiner Müller. Visuals are by photographer / sculptor Jan Hoek. The show has won countless accolades in the press for its bold combination of biting lyrics, danceable tunes and pounding beats. 

Velissariou finds a radical way to express what the essence of Müller's work means to her by dissecting themes of misogyny, sexism and feminist extremism. To her, a theatrical concert offers the ultimate means for shining a light on them. 

Permanent Destruction - The HM Concert is the second part of a post-dystopian music theatre trilogy that tackles taboos in our current image culture. We avoid things like heartbreak and misogyny because they’re not sexy or Instagram-worthy. You can't build a profile on an expression of pain. Or can you? 

Naomi Velissariou shows us that you can diffuse fear by honouring it; that if you want the weight to fall off your shoulders, you just have to dance to the tune and rhythm of your pain. The music - which ranges from techno to rap, hardcore and punk - is a pounding embodiment of a dark message, or as the band calls it, "melodrama on speed". 

NB: Strobe lighting is used in this performance.