Explicit lesbian scenes at the opera leaves 18 audience members needing medical treatment
A night at the opera is usually quite the classy affair, but this cast of naked roller-skating nuns have managed to turn that on its head, with their eye-popping performance that left 18 people in the audience needing medical treatment.
Throw in a few explicit lesbian sex scenes and some real blood alongside the scantily-clad sisters of the church, and you have got yourself a recipe for quite the thrilling night in the theatre.
There's only been two performances of it so far since its premiere on 5 October, but more than half a dozen people who have seen it have ended up suffering with shock and nausea due to its salacious scenes, Spiegel reported.
In three cases, a doctor even had to be called to deal with the flustered theatregoers.
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Those who had a physical reaction to the chaos unfolding in front of them were sat in the rows near the stage, according to a spokesperson for the opera, who added that they would have known 'what they are letting themselves in for'.
And once you find out more about Florentina Holzinger's adaption of the legendary one-act play written over a century ago, you might get a better idea as to why.
The Austrian choreographer and extreme performance artist has already made a name for herself as someone who pushes the boundaries, especially when it comes to reimagining different modes of female representation on stage.
A lot of her earlier pieces have been brimming with acrobatics and martial arts, but for her opera titled Sancta, she opted to stick some skates on the cast instead - although there are still plenty of madcap stunts by the all-female cast.
A whopping 103 years after composer Paul Hindemith was informed that his play Sancta Susanna was too outrageous to ever see the light of day at the historic Stuttgart Opera in Germany, Holzinger has brought his dream to life.
His idea for a production centred on the story of a nun who discovers her sexuality, which ends up sending the entire nunnery into a hub of sexual frenzy - but back in 1921, you can imagine that the opera wasn't ready for this sort of thing.
As a result, the premiere of Hindemith's 'blasphemous' play was cancelled and he was forced to put the project to bed.
Now, Holzinger has took his idea and ran with it, seeing Sancta staged for the first time ever.
The opera has an age restriction of 18 and bold warnings about its sexually-charged contents - which is a good job, seen as though audience members have been getting all hot and bothered while watching the unusual show.
You can take a look at the trailer for it here - but do be warned, it's explicit and naked nuns are visible:
There's an actress with dwarfism who levitates in the air before being spun around by a robotic arm and another dressed up as Jesus belting out some of Eminem's tracks, so Sancta really sounds like quite the trip.
The synopsis of the show on Stuttgart Opera's website explains that 'natural nudity is a very central means of expression' for Holzinger, hence why the nuns are running around in the nude.
It reads: "Florentina Holzinger's opera performance combines Paul Hindemith's one-act opera Sancta Susanna and elements of the Catholic liturgy to create a radical vision of the Holy Mass.
"With her performers, she embarks on spectacular physical experiences that push the boundaries and explores individual spirituality and faith, sexuality and pain, shame and liberation.
It adds: "Magic and religious miracles are given a new interpretation in an ecstatic celebration of community and self-determination, in which Bach meets metal, the Weather Girls meet Rachmaninoff - and naked nuns meet roller skates."
As it explores themes of religion, sexual oppression, violence and gender, those who buy a ticket to see Sancta are warned that it might cause some 'discomfort' or even have a 'traumatic effect' on those in the audience.
The Stuttgart Opera adds: "Sexual acts take place on stage. There is also real blood and fake blood, piercings and the infliction of a wound. Stroboscopic effects, volume and incense are used in the performance."
It's a wild two-hour-and-45-minute ride, with no breaks - so buckle up if you're attending.
Having your doctor on speed dial apparently isn't a bad idea, either.
Despite the 18 unwell attendees, organisers behind Sancta insisted the show will go on as intended, while adding that dramatic reactions such as nausea and fainting are part and parcel of going to the theatre.
Topics: Entertainment, LGBTQ, Sex and Relationships, Weird, World News, Art
Olivia Burke