Dengbêj in the Disco

Singing & Storytelling Performance

Dengbêj in the Disco-Bora Uluç

Dengbêj in the Disco blends traditional Kurdish singing with the story of a singer living in exile.

"Deng" means "sound" and "bêj" means "to tell" in Kurdish. But how do you tell a story when your voice is trapped in another language?

Singer Hêja Netirk and actress Sarina Panahideh share the stage, exploring what would happen if a woman became a professional dengbêj—a role traditionally reserved for men.

The performance unfolds on two levels: When the protagonist is in Kurdistan, the story is told through traditional Kurdish songs.

When the protagonist arrives in Germany, the focus shifts to Hêja's personal experiences.

Audience reaction

"When I saw the scene with the asylum application, I felt transported back to 20 years ago when I was in Lübeck. It was as if I were sitting in the chair myself, hearing the questions. But you remembered the questions I was asked back then better than I did myself."

Director & Performer Hêja Netirk

Performance Sarîna Panahîdeh

Dramaturgy Mesut Alp

Directing Consultation  Hüseyin Umaysiz

Outside Eye Alan Ciwan

Scenography Yi-Jou Chuang

Music Carlos Andrés Rico

Production Management and PR Hêja Netirk

Next date:

• Date Tuesday, 23/June/2026 20:00
• Venue TAK - Theater im Aufbau Haus - Berlin-Kreuzberg
• Address Prinzenstraße 85 F, 10969 Berlin-Kreuzberg