Three drag queens in wrestling outfits on a befogged stage with coloured lights. Two sit on thrones in the background and cheer, one in the foreground with a huge pink weight ball.
© Julia Schwendner
Three drag queens in wrestling outfits on a befogged stage with coloured lights. Two sit on thrones in the background and cheer, one in the foreground with a huge pink weight ball.
© Julia Schwendner
Performance

Choke Hole

hosting Choke Hole : Boob Camp

Info

From 18 years

Possible triggers: strobe lights / volume / depiction of violence, drug use and sexual content / swear words / shouting / crowds / intense noises / darkness / standing audience, no fixed seating. For barrier-free requirements, please contact the box office.

Past dates

Archive

Saturday

1/28/23

10:00 PM

CHOKE HOLE returns! The New Orleans based and internationally acclaimed “Extreme Drag Wrestling” show returns to Kampnagel for the first time since their triumphant 2021 debut. The wrestling collective recently wrapped up a residency at AREA15 in Las Vegas and are now on the hunt for new talent, hosting CHOKE HOLE: BOOB CAMP, a week long workshop at Kampnagel theatre to pass on their extreme drag wrestling knowledge. Ten participants will take part in a rigorous curriculum, learning everything necessary to become a trained CHOKE HOLE performer. Then they’ll “graduate” at a final show, where the students will showcase what they’ve developed – framed by show fights by CHOKE HOLE professionals and followed by a set by Choke Hole performer and self-proclaimed „Body Building Barbie“ as well as international DJ celebrity Miss Toto (Chicago). Let‘s get ready to rumble!

CHOKE HOLE places a queer lens on the traditionally machismo world of wrestling, using drag and queer performance to intensify and make apparent the inherently flamboyant and camp elements of professional wrestling. The event itself combines lip sync performances, choreographed wrestling matches, acting, character building, and video elements to create an overarching storyline, which builds a fully immersive nightlife experience. CHOKE HOLE wrestlers and matches are defined by one of the most important queer performative tools, exaggeration. From a crazed real estate investor fighting for her right to gentrify against an alien-bug squatter, to a washed up pop star, and a conspiracy-spouting white-dread-sporting cop, the show reflects what we see and experience locally and culturally, but amps it up to ridiculous heights.

Two people are fighting in the ring. One person is lying on his stomach. The other person sits on her and holds her by the foot. She makes a grimace.
© Julia Schwendner
A person with a blue mohawk hairstyle is standing in a fighting ring. She has both hands in the air and looks like she is screaming. In the background on the wall is written Chokehole.
© Julia Schwendner
A person is lying in a fighting ring looking at the camera and grimacing. She has a pink costume on and a metal dummy on one leg. Her leg looks like it's from a robot. She stretches the leg upwards.
© Julia Schwendner
A person in a fighting ring can be seen. The person is wearing the green and yellow costume of an insect. The insect head is put through the barrier of the fighting ring.
© Julia Schwendner
A person with a green made-up face and green bushy hair stands in a fighting ring. She speaks into a microphone and is surrounded by mist.
© Julia Schwendner
Three drag queens in wrestling outfits on a befogged stage with colorful lights. Two sit on thrones in the background and cheer, one in the foreground with a huge pink weight ball.
© Julia Schwendner
A drag queen in a black-silver-green costume is lying on the floor of a fighting ring. She wears a chastity belt. With a small circular saw she works on her metal underpants. Sparks fly through the area
© Julia Schwendner
In a fighting ring stands a black drag queen with a blue top tail and long, curly, salmon-colored hair. She gestures a power pose by clenching her hands into fists on either side.
© Julia Schwendner
You can see a person in front of a dark background. The person is a drag queen with a purple wig and a pink fluffy tutu. She has both hands pressed into her sides and is leaning backwards.
© Julia Schwendner
Two drag queens can be seen in a fighting ring. The queen on the left has a black and pink costume and grimaces. The queen on the right has a long blue robe on, kneels on the floor and holds a kind of bible in her hand.
© Julia Schwendner
Asset You see two drag queens in a fighting ring. The left one is a referee, the right one is a fighter. The left person holds up the arm of the right, as if she is declared the winner.
© Julia Schwendner
Two drag queens in a fighting ring can be seen. They jump at each other from the corners of the ring. On the wall is written chokehole.
© Julia Schwendner
A drag queen moves towards the fighting ring. The ring is held up for her. She wears orange high boots, a red cape and has orange hair. Behind her 4 bright lamps are burning.
© Julia Schwendner

A production of Choke Hole and Kampnagel Hamburg with Gieza Poke in collaboration with LEAD Productions.

Supported by Fonds Darstellende Künste mit Mitteln des Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien.