What if orgasm is the last process where we can be truly honest?

ORGASM is a project that combines a 3-day community workshop with a multidisciplinary performance.Orgasm interests us both as a direct experience and as a metaphor, both as an ultimate pleasure and an ultimate despair. Through acting, movement, and participatory practices, we explore the myths and social constructs surrounding orgasm and question how history, gender stereotypes, and cultural narratives have shaped our perception of it.Ultimately, we aim to restore the essential meaning of orgasm, while empowering viewers and participants to redefine their relationship with this deeply human experience. We ask ourselves – what is the last realm of unfiltered honesty? Can it be… orgasm? Or is this notion too patriarchal, colonial or simply outdated? Our project seeks to open up this debate, break the taboo surrounding the orgasm, and foster a plain conversation about our right to experience — or not to experience it.We believe that theater as a medium offers a unique platform to engage the audience in meaningful conversations about vulnerability, honesty, and autonomy associated with orgasm. We will dive into this intimate phenomenon in two complement formats that constitute our project: WORKSHOP and PERFORMANCE.Together, we will explore: Who controls narratives about Orgasm? Who controls narratives at all? And how does Orgasm relate to social processes and personal experience? Can we free it from its metaphor and reclaim its essential nature?

Performance

1h 40 min
5 actors on stage
in English
mix of physical and drama theatreWhen was the last time you went to a performance that started like this:An actor comes on stage and promises that by the end of the show, every audience member will experience Orgasm. With NO EXCEPTIONSImagine a theatre with a huge banner in front of it with six letters. People are going inside. These are people of all ages, genders and backgrounds, united by their curiosity, their desire to go beyond what is familiar and "safe" and their hunger for honesty and open conversation.They enter the auditorium through an exhibition of art objects in the foyer, dedicated to Orgasm and made by the participants of the workshop.The string quartet of naked porn actors is faking the act of playing. The lights go out.The performance evolves into a kaleidoscope of theatrical techniques, sketches, and scenes exploring pleasure and catharsis in life, sex, and art.Collective practices, audience involvement,, and constant flickering — are we talking about orgasm itself? Or about metaphor?Actors perform the origin and evolution of Orgasm as a fast-paced comic book. The audience is invited to join the "Vagina Based Knowledge’ movement. Scientific information and medical facts about orgasm are presented in an opera style. At some point everything turns to an awkward ballet of the full spectrum of orgasm.In the end of the performance, the audience is invited to vote: Which day should be officially the Day of Orgasm? Today, Tomorrow, or Every Day.

Due to its participatory nature, the project can be adapted for venues with 150–200 spectators, as well as large stages with up to 800 seats.

Workshop

3 days
10-30 participants
accessible artistic practicesThe workshop is a 3 day social module with 10-30 number of participants where people explore their relationship with orgasm through accessible artistic practices:The workshop is a 3 day social module for communities with 10-30 number of participants preceding the performance and directly connected to it. The participants explore their relationship with orgasm through accessible artistic practices:Painting
Installation
Sharings
Dance
Performance
Text and Voice
Lecture and DiscussionsThe workshop results in an exhibition and personal artistic statement of participants “Me & Orgasm”This workshop is for anyone who is over 18 and willing to explore ORGASM both as an art-experience and as a metaphor.

Art-Objects from the workshop are integrated into the performance structure which gives a unique local angle to each performance and manifests differences and similarities between cities and countries.

Team

ALEXANDR ANDRIYASHKIN
co-author & co-director based in Kazakhstan

Art practitioner, choreographer, theatre maker with 25 years of experience in live performing arts, sociocultural projects, participatory practices, and teaching.In his activities constantly seeks a balance between research, quality, and accessibility.“The Marusya” got Golden Mask Prize (biggest Russian theatrical award) (2017)
“Right for Protection” reel about domestic violence had over 10 million views, was posted by leading medias (2024)
As an author, he has presented his work in 20+ countries.

ANJA DEMIDOVA
co-author & co-director based in Berlin

A theater director with a diverse international background. In 2017, she founded and led the independent Urban Forest Theater in Moscow, and in 2023, she co-founded the Berlin-based platform Can.Act e.V., supporting artists with migration backgrounds.Her education spans Russian classical drama and physical theater, with training from Odin Teatret (Denmark), NIPAI (Germany), and Jan Fabre’s Troubleyn (Belgium). Since 2022, she has been working in Berlin with venues such as HAU, Gorki Theater, and Volksbühne.

ALINA ALESHCHENKO
producer and curator based in Berlin

Has a degree in theater management and studies from Moscow Art Theater School.Worked as a project manager for Jo Strømgren Kompani, Schauspiel Stuttgart, Volksbühne Berlin, Schauspiel Dortmund, Thalia Theater Hamburg, Deutsches Theater Berlin and Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus. Part of curatorial team of several festivals, including POSTWEST (Volksbühne 2020), RADAROST (Deutsches Theater 2024) and Queer Festival (Schauspiel Dortmund 2021 & 2022). Member of Berlin-based film- and theater collective CIAO NOW. Since 2023, CEO and creative producer of Kirill & Friends gGmbH lead by Kirill Serebrennikov.
producer and curator based in Berlin.

For whom

The performance and The Workshop are for everyone who is over 18, ready for honesty, self-irony and willing to explore orgasm both as a metaphor and as an art-experience, no matter - you hate theatre or love it.This project is about creating both safe and brave space where people with different perspectives can meet, see, and hear each other rather than convincing anyone to take a particular side.

Get involved

There are 3 ways and 3 types of budgets to make "ORGASM" happen:1) INDEPENDENT
We realize the project as an independent production.
You cover the budget.
See budget for more details:

2) CO-DEPENDENT
We realize the project within your institution.
You participate with your resources.
See budget for more details:

3) INTER-DEPENDENT
You can join at the specific phase, where you see your interest and capacity
See budget for more details:

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