Cock, Cock… Who’s There? by Sam Elagoz is a 65-minute performance-film that blends documentary, performance art, and personal storytelling to explore power, gender dynamics, and the aftermath of sexual violence. What began as an intimate investigation into male–female relationships has evolved over the past decade, taking on new layers of meaning. Since transitioning in 2021, Elagoz has brought an even deeper resonance to the work. Now, as a trans man revisiting a piece that originally reflected on rape, masculinity, and the female gaze, he adds a unique and deeply personal dimension, further complicating and enriching its impact.
Spanning three continents, the work follows Elagoz as he, at the time identifying as a woman, engaged with men through online platforms like Tinder and Chatroulette, as well as in real-life encounters. These interactions reveal the ambivalence of male–female relations—their brutality and tenderness, their power struggles and vulnerabilities. Cock, Cock… Who’s There? is unapologetically raw, confrontational, darkly humorous, and deeply moving, challenging audiences to rethink intimacy, agency, and gendered power structures.
Cock, Cock… Who’s There? has received several prestigious awards, among them the Total Theatre Award (2018) at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Prix Jardin d’Europe (2017) at the ImPulsTanz Festival in Vienna, or the André Veltkamp Award (2017) from the Academy of Theatre and Dance in Amsterdam.
A Work That Continues to Evolve
When the piece first premiered, it foreshadowed conversations that would soon erupt worldwide with the rise of the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, sending shockwaves through the entertainment industry and beyond. Today, nearly a decade later, it remains touring internationally and as urgent as ever—now viewed through the lens of Elagoz’s transition, offering a rare perspective on gender, trauma, and self-reclamation.
CREDITS
Created by
Sam Elagoz
Performers:
Sam Elagoz
Ayumi Matsuda
Tashi Iwaoka
Distribution
Something Great
Supported by
The Finnish Cultural Foundation
Blooom Award
SNDO