“a name / שם” is a further development of the celebrated work “The Names / שמות” by Ariel Efraim Ashbel and friends, which premiered at HAU in 2023. It combines various artistic elements in an immersive and intimate setting that allows the audience to immerse themselves in ideas of community, love and the complex interdependencies of human existence. The centrepiece is the haunting and atmospheric music of LABOUR, which is interwoven with a poetic and provocative text by the writer Senthuran Varatharajah. This multi-layered tapestry of sound and language is intensified by the Berlin “Show Choir” and the unmistakable voice of Ravid Kahalani, the frontman of the internationally acclaimed band “Yemen Blues”. The show skillfully combines elements of a salon, a church service and a listening session. Inspired by traditional Jewish rituals, it draws on mythical tales of compassion and responsibility.