The production is directed by the renowned theatre maker Livio Beyeler, who interprets the work as a moving reflection on memory and solidarity. “I’m interested in the diversity of perspectives – remembrance as a shared process and practice,” says Beyeler. “The play opens up a space of remembrance that connects the generations – including those who came before us. My aim is to make both loss and life palpable at the same time – the dignity that lies within remembrance.”

“Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens” was created in 1989 as an artistic response to the AIDS crisis. The songs and monologues give a voice to people whose lives have been shaped by HIV – those affected as well as their loved ones. Just like the famous AIDS Quilts, those patchwork tapestries of remembrance, here too many individual destinies come together to form one great collective picture. “And then, of course, it’s a Swiss premiere – which is simply lovely to be able to celebrate,” adds Beyeler.

With this charity concert, the Swiss AIDS Federation is commemorating four decades of commitment to supporting people living with HIV and combating discrimination. HIV and AIDS have had a profound impact on Switzerland’s history: thousands have died of AIDS, and many people’s lives continue to be affected by HIV to this day. For 40 years, the Swiss AIDS Federation has stood for humanity, care and the fight for equal opportunities in health and sexual self-determination – particularly for people who are still denied these rights.

“This anniversary is a moment to pause and reflect,” says Florian Vock, deputy director of the Swiss AIDS Federation. “We remember the many we have lost, and all those who have fought for decades for dignity, education and equality. At the same time, it is a call to carry on – for a world in which no one is excluded because of HIV, their sexuality or their background.”

The production

The song cycle ‘Elegies For Angels, Punks And Raging Queens’ combines poignant monologues and powerful songs to create a moving reflection on life, love, loss and the impact of the AIDS crisis. The aim is to stage the work for the first time in Switzerland to mark the 40th anniversary of the Swiss AIDS Federation, on this year’s World AIDS Day.

Just as the ‘Quilt of Memorial’ – a literal patchwork quilt created by bereaved families to preserve the memory of those who have died of AIDS – serves as a memorial, so too do the around 30 monologues, each telling a different story, form the basis of this production. These stories are as colourful and diverse as people and life itself: some are light-hearted, others bitter; many are life-affirming, whilst others are sad. This sequence is interrupted only by a few songs, sung by bereaved families and survivors, which range in style from gospel to swing and ballads.

‘Elegies For Angels, Punks And Raging Queens’ is a song cycle by Janet Hood (music) and Bill Russell (lyrics), which was first performed in New York in 1989. Inspired by the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and Edgar Lee Masters’ *Spoon River Anthology*, the piece tells, through songs and monologues, the stories of people affected by AIDS – those living with the disease, friends and relatives. The piece combines various musical styles, ranging from ballads to gospel, and succeeds in shedding light on the subject of AIDS in a powerful and poetic way. Following its world premiere at the Ohio Theatre in New York, it gained international acclaim and was staged in venues including London’s West End. The German-language premiere took place in Berlin in 2018 as a benefit event in aid of Deutsche Aids-Hilfe.

Cast and Crew

Director: Livio Beyeler
Actors: Sandro Howald (German), Théo Castro (French)
Vocals: Angelo Canonico, Tim Hunziker, Sarah Kappeler, Lily Sollors
Musical Director: David Bircher
Costumes: Julian Zigerli
Technical Director: Markus Güdel
Production Managers: Lara Anderegg, Fiammina Catti
Production: Swiss AIDS Aid

Livio Beyeler

Director

Livio Beyeler (born 1995) is a theatre director and conceptual artist. He studied at the Zurich University of the Arts and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. He completed his studies by setting a world record for the longest theatre performance. This was followed by productions for the Uri Theatre (‘Rausch’, based on ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’; ‘Achtung Tell!’, based on ‘William Tell’; and his own plays, such as ‘HELLVETIA’). He has been the resident director at Theater Uri since the 22/23 season. He also directs in the independent theatre scene (‘Die Schweiz ein Gefängnis’, Schlachthaus Theater Bern; ‘The Little Seawitch’, Theater am Neumarkt, Zurich; ‘Träume nach Farben sortieren’, Freies Theater Hannover). His work ‘Whatever You Want and As You Like It’ was presented at the Swiss Theatre Festival in 2021. In the field of conceptual art, Beyeler’s works have been exhibited at venues including the Prague Quadrennial, No Nation Gallery in Chicago and Run Run Shaw in Hong Kong. In 2023, he realised a total work of art at the Haus für Kunst Uri as part of his solo exhibition ‘welcome home’.

Florian Vock

Producer / Project Manager

Florian Vock (born 1990) is Deputy Director of the Swiss AIDS Federation and is responsible for all activities marking its 40th anniversary, including a symposium and gala at the Swiss National Museum in Zurich. He has been working at the Swiss AIDS Federation since 2019 and, together with his team, organises programmes, campaigns and projects in the field of HIV prevention and for people living with HIV. He also regularly organises cultural events and parties in Zurich (Rote Fabrik, Provitreff, Moods, Gonzo, Stall 6, and many more). In 2017, he founded the lila. queer festival, which is now the largest queer cultural festival in Switzerland. Politically, he is active as a board member of Pink Cross.

Julian Zigerli

Costume design

Julian Zigerli is a Swiss fashion designer. He attended the Berlin University of the Arts. After graduating in 2010, he returned to his roots in Zurich and founded his eponymous label, ‘JULIAN ZIGERLI’. Originally a menswear label, it now creates collections for both men and women, various accessories, product lines and interior design pieces. “JULIAN ZIGERLI” stands for sporty, dynamic and wearable fashion that takes an interdisciplinary approach and collaborates on numerous print designs. The collections have already been showcased around the globe, in cities such as Berlin, London, Zurich, Milan, New York, Paris and Seoul. Julian Zigerli has won numerous design awards, including an invitation from Giorgio Armani to the Teatro Armani in Milan in 2014 and the Swiss Design Award in 2012, 2014 and 2016. Alongside his role as creative director and CEO of his own label, Julian Zigerli regularly works on cross-sector projects. Since 2021, Julian Zigerli has been a visiting professor of fashion design at the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK).