Orpheus in Underworld

Orpheus in Underworld is a radical reinterpretation of the Orpheus myth where opera, dance, and technology merge. The world premiere is a co-production of the Canadian immersive opera studio re:Naissance Immersive and the contemporary dance group Belle Spirale.

The work moves at the boundary between digital and living reality, dismantling oppositions that run through our lives - between heaven and hell, masculine and feminine, creator and muse, performer and audience. The story follows the trans person O, whose gender and identity remain outside definitions. A fragmented past and rejected self-images accompany Orpheus as he journeys to the virtual world Underworld, where he gains the chance to express himself through avatars in extended reality. The work asks how to live fully in a world that does not always recognize diversity.

Performers: Teiya Kasahara 笠原貞野, Brandon Thornhill, Leo D.E. Johnson

Artistic team: Luke Hathaway, Teiya Kasahara 笠原貞野, Debi Wong, Benton Roark, Alexis Fletcher, Neel Nair, Brian Topp

Performances at Pannuhalli in Tanssin talo on 18.9. and 19.9.2026 from 19.00 to 20.30. Tickets 20/30 € from Tanssin talo. Audiences are encouraged to arrive early before the performance to try out the Underworld virtual platform.