How did humankind come to a point where the answer to catastrophes, global warming and the rise of fascism seems to be even more cynical exploitation and a longing for security that has us revere a (fictitious) glorious past?
Reality Bang, Oblivia’s new music theatre performance, is the next part in their Turn Turtle Turn series on the Anthropocene, the first part of which premiered at the Munich Biennale in 2024. In Reality Bang, Oblivia employs music, text and movement to illuminate the “big bang of reality” and the present day reality we are currently facing (or, perhaps, sometimes do not dare to face) worldwide and in our own societies. Thrown into the Reality Bang, what we have is the present moment, no past or future – no time for nostalgia, feelings of loss, not even catastrophe euphoria.
We do not know what the future will look like. We do not know how things will turn out nor when the tsunami of catastrophes will overwhelm us. All we know is to live day by day in the here and now, this very moment – and we will live and see.
Reality Bang continues Oblivia’s experimental explorations in the field of contemporary music theatre, again transposing the great questions of being human to the stage, applied with a light touch and fine wit.
CREDITS
Performers: Timo Fredriksson, Anna-Maija Terävä, Annika Tudeer, Juha Valkeapää, Nagisa Shibata (percussions), Yiran Zhao (electronic live music)
Concept, direction, dramaturgy, texts: Oblivia
Composer: Yiran Zhao
Light design, projections: Meri Ekola
Costume design: Tua Helve
Graphic design: Jenni Salminen (Röd)
Communications: Essi Brunberg & Nassrah-Alexia Denif
Production manager: Jenny Nordlund
Co-producer: ARGEkultur Salzburg
Supported by: Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Svenska kulturfonden, City of Helsinki, Konstsamfundet, Stiftelsen Tre Smeder, KulttuuriEspoo
Residency: Musiktheatertage Wien
Premiere | 20 June 2025, ARGEkultur Salzburg & Sommerszene Performing Arts Festival
