A heady mix of love, drugs and Islam – The Chosen Haram is a unique and complex take on circus, coming to Liverpool as part of the Homotopia festival on Thursday 16 November 2023.
Performed entirely on two Chinese Poles, The Chosen Haram tells the story of two gay men and their chance meeting through a dating app. It details the highs and lows of their relationship and the social and cultural barriers they must overcome to find happiness and personal fulfillment – the word “Haram” refers to something that is forbidden in Islam.
Taking over Invisible Wind Factory with gravity-defying tricks and extraordinary movement, the show explores sexuality, faith, addiction and connection – an exploration into the personal struggles faced by many people whose upbringing contradicts their personal truths. The Chosen Haram is based on a combination of lead artist Sadiq Ali’s personal experience, as well as interviews with members of the LGBTQ+ community who identify as (ex) Muslim.
Alice Holland, Festival Programmer, said: “The Chosen Haram is outstanding as an extremely skilled piece of circus theatre, and as a truly moving story that speaks to body, heart and soul. The play is thoughtful, impressive, romantic, inventive and sexy, and a real treat for audiences in Liverpool.”
The shows forms part of an exciting and varied programme of events for the 2023 Homotopia Festival, which is celebrating its 20th year at the forefront of Queer art and activism.
The festival kicks off with a show-stopping evening of drag cabaret and pro-wrestling on 11 November in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle. Other highlights include The Ten Commandments, a new show by Queer legend and performance artist David Hoyle, music and spoken word by Liv Wynter, and a range of visual art and performances from 11 November until 2 December.
A full list of events is available at homotopia.net.