With A Masque for the Multiverse, laborgras and Ensemble CONTINUUM create a vibrant reinterpretation of the historical masque tradition, featuring a cast of eight musicians, three singers, and four performers. In this performance, baroque music by William Lawes, composed for the court of Charles I, meets the contemporary compositions of Shara Nova, whose music fuses influences from both pop culture and baroque.

The performance blends music and contemporary dance into a cross-genre evening, exploring themes of diversity and openness. Inspired by the concept of the masque – a revolutionary event at the courts of (former Kings of England) James I and Charles I – this tradition is reimagined as a contemporary version. Audience members are invited to move freely within the performance space, shaping their own perspectives on the unfolding events. They can choose how close or distant they wish to be from the performers, experiencing the piece as active participants.

Despite a 400-year time gap, the works of William Lawes and Shara Nova share one common theme: Transformation and identity. Shara Nova’s opera You Us We All creates a seamless transition between the epochs, allowing the baroque allegories of Hope, Love, and Death to resonate with contemporary life issues. The texts challenge us to question familiar beliefs: “What is our life? What purpose does beauty serve today?”

With sensuality and irony, laborgras launches the new work cycle Encounter with A Masque for the Multiverse, creating a space for reflection and change – a bridge between historical traditions and modern cultural trends. It offers a unique experience for anyone curious about an artistic symbiosis of baroque and contemporary influences, as well as the interplay of dance and music.

Artistic Direction: laborgras Renate Graziadei & Arthur Stäldi
Idea/concept/curation: CONTINUUM (Liam Byrne, Viola Blache, Elina Albach) & laborgras
Musical direction: Elina Albach
Artistic cooperation: Barbara Weigel
Choreography and dance: Renate Graziadei in collaboration with Rosalind Masson, Abraham Iglesias Rodriguez, Miguel Gonzalez Padilla
Dramaturgy: Arthur Stäldi
Composition: Shara Nova, William Lawes, Orlando Gibbons, William Byrd, Thomas Morley, John Bennet
Music: CONTINUUM
Arrangement: Liam Byrne
Soprano: Viola Blache
Alto: Bernadette Beckermann
Bass: Martin Schicketanz
Cornetto: Anna Schall
Violin & Viola: Ildiko Ludwig
Viola da Gamba: Mirjam Luise Münzel, Liam Byrne
Lute: Jonas Nordberg
Harps: Babett Niclas
Vibraphone, Glockenspiel, Historical Drums: Lola Mlacnik
Harpsichord & Organ: Elina Albach
Lighting design: Kevin Sock
Costume design: Claudia Janitschek
Assistant costumes: Manja Beneke
Make up and Hair (Pictures Postcards): Kati Heimann
Press and public relations: k3 berlin
Pictures Postcards: Phil Dera
Design Postcards: Mia Sedding
Production management: MIFRUSH Production (Micaela Trigo & Urszula Heuwinkel)
Pictures from the Performance: Phil Dera, Dieter Hartwig