Soniq Kollektiv

Together with Luxembourgish actress, singer and performer Sascha Ley and Wuppertal-based sound poet Mitch Heinrich, the Cologne-based collective SONIQ has developed a programme that reinterprets literary texts beyond the format of a reading. Salman Rushdie, who has been fighting fearlessly and unyieldingly for freedom of expression for decades, provides the central theme and source of inspiration for this project with his latest novel, Victory City. In his work, Indian mythology and history are woven together in a fantasy world. 

At the same time, very real references to the burning issues of the present day are highlighted: power and abuse of power, the rise and fall of a world power, women in a patriarchal world.

India's importance in the global power structure is growing exponentially, its significant role in combating climate change is undeniable, and its position at the crossroads between democracy and autocracy gives cause for hope or fear. With his attitude to life, Salman Rushdie embodies an optimistic outlook that could become immensely important for the survival of humanity in today's world. Inspired by ‘Victory City’, Sascha Ley and Mitch Heinrich have developed and processed texts and fragments of speech that are spoken, sung, performed musically and theatrically, rapped, whispered and declaimed. 

The two language performers engage in dialogue with the musicians, whose harmonisations, rhythms and improvisational contributions transform the text performance into a linguistic and musical Gesamtkunstwerk.

In English and German, with a dash of Kannada 

(the language of the Indian state of Karnataka).

Auf Englisch und Deutsch und mit einer Prise Kannada

(die Sprache des indischen Bundesstaates Karnataka).

VORSTELLUNG

10. Juni 2026

um 20 Uhr

WITH

Mitch Heinrich

& Sascha Ley

texts, vocal performance

Christina Fuchs

clarinet, saxophone

Ramesh Shotham

percussion

Jarry Singla

piano, harmonium

A PRODUCTION OF

Soniq Kollektiv

www.soniq-music.com