Dear Human
Animals

Soya is a cow but also a drag-queen. A drag-cow. Soya is for sure feminist and undoubtedly anti-speciesist. Soya talks and sings. A cow can also have a beautiful voice. Soya is overwhelmingly dressed. A cow can be elegant. Soya overacts sometimes. A cow can enjoy having fun. But Soya wants to tell us serious things. In Dear Human Animals, she represents victims of animal cruelty. She is the lawyer defending all the animals in muzzles and the nature being destroyed. Bizzare? Crazy? Maybe. But if this diva with horns is crazy, the intention is to reveal the disturbing truths that we prefer ignoring.

 

Zurich-based performer, actor and singer Daniel Hellmann studied philosophy, classical singing and theater in Zurich, Lausanne and Bern. His artistic practice is in line with a form of activism that questions social norms and power relations (human rights, sexuality, animal condition...). With his alter ego Soya the Cow, a kind of feminist vegan drag cow, he performs in public spaces, theaters and music venues.

​

Artistic direction, conception, performance: Daniel Hellmann / Dramaturgy : Daniela Lehmann / Music: Philipp Constantin and Daniel Hellmann / Video: Aron Smith and Olivia Schenker / Costumes & mask: Ran Chai Bar-Zvi, Daniel Hellmann, Nadja Jeberien and Esteban Pomar / Stage and lighting design: Theres Indermaur / Outside look: Anne Welenc and Marion Zurbach / Production: Patricia Bianchi / Distribution: Les Productions de la Seine (Florence Francisco and Gabrielle Baille) / Dear Human Animals was created on november 24, 2020 at la Gessnerallee Zürich / Production: Daniel Hellmann and Cie. 3art3 / Coproduction: la Gessnerallee Zürich and Schlachthaus Theater Bern.