Somewhere near the toilets, an ominous showdown is taking place. In a tantalizing mix of candid lyrics, energetic music and a grimey setting, two friends search for the limits of their “faggot friendship*”: a very intimate friendship with no hidden romantic feelings. What are the limits of intimacy, now that falling in love plays no role?    

No Matter What is a poignant, theatrical love letter to your very best friend. The performance is an ode to toxic patterns, destructive forces and new forms of intimacy. – “Fuck, I wish I was your lover!  

Intimacy without love and/or sex, what about that? In literature and movies, queer friendships often revolve around a secret, unrequited love (think Call Me By Your Name, Brokeback Mountain, Saltburn). What forms does intimacy take in a relationship where this doesn’t play a role? To explore this more broadly, the creators came up with the framework “faggot friendship.” During the course of the research, it turned out there was little space for such platonic bonds within current systems, leading to a portrait of a dystopian friendship with palpable socio-political overtones. 

*R3LN4CHT recognizes that faggot is a provocative word used in a discriminatory manner. This performance follows in the footsteps of a long history of creators, writers and individuals from the queer community; who reclaimed the word as a slogan. The frame of the “faggot friend” is a conscious choice derived from the queerness of the creative team, including the questions it raises.