YOU\ME/ALIEN – A Space Opera by Opera Lab Berlin

Step into a transformative exploration of connection and understanding with YOUME/ALIEN, an innovative space opera presented by Opera Lab Berlin. This production is a captivating social and artistic experiment that invites audiences to engage in radical empathy, promoting an interaction with the “other” not as a source of fear, but as a presence for imaginative rethinking.

@operalabberlin + @delphitheater

Brought to life by an international ensemble of ten talented performers, YOUME/ALIEN creates an atmosphere rich with experimental vocal techniques and an eclectic mix of instrumental sounds from strings, winds, percussion, and electronics. This captivating blend results in an otherworldly auditory experience that is further enhanced by pulsating light, evocative fragments of text, and choreographed movement. The music and text fluidly evolve, shattering conventional compositions and embracing their transformative, collective nature.

Delving into the genre of space opera, often associated with grand science fiction narratives, YOUME/ALIEN reinterprets this form as a poetic expedition through the spaces that exist between individuals, emphasising the fragile, unpredictable, and deeply political encounters that shape our interactions.

This thought-provoking production poses pressing questions: How do we navigate our differences in communication? In what ways can language bind us together yet also create barriers? How can art foster empathy in lieu of division? With over 30 independent productions since its inception in 2013, Opera Lab Berlin continues to redefine contemporary music theatre, serving as a platform for the exchange of diverse lived experiences.

Highlights of the performance’s ensemble include:

• Vocals: Thorbjörn Björnsson, Astan Meyer, Sadie Shea, Aparna Shenoy
• Instruments: Roshanak Rafani (Tombak & Percussion), Youka Snell (Shamisen & Violin), Mauricio Velasierra (Hybrid Electro-Acoustic Flutes), Evan Gardner (Electric Guitar), Constance Morvan (Clarinet), Guilherme Rodrigues (Cello)
• Music: Evan Gardner & Opera Lab Berlin
• Text: Susan Stryker & Peach Kander
• Choreography: Sadie Shea
• Production Management: Paula Häfele
• Musical Direction: Francesca Verga
• Artistic Direction: Evan Gardner

YOUME/ALIEN is produced in collaboration with Theatre im Delphi and supported by Hauptstadtkulturfonds.

Premiere: February 4, 2026, at 20:00
Further Shows: February 6, 7 & 8, 2026, at 20:00
Venue: Theater im Delphi, Gustav-Adolf-Str. 2, 13086 Berlin
Duration: 80 minutes | Languages: English (with German subtitles)

For more details, visit Opera Lab Berlin and Theater im Delphi. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness this remarkable event that transcends the boundaries of traditional performance art!