Uncanny Valley
Video design for a theatre piece by RIMINI PROTOKOLL (Stefan Kaegi)
We mostly think of robots as work machines, as efficient and precise executors of tasks. In German industry, they barely look like people, to avoid emotional complications. Unlike in Asia, where humanoid robots have already been developed for some time, for example for care-work or as sex partners. The external similarity to human beings makes the acceptance of machines easier. However, if the machine is too similar to a human, we begin to feel mistrust: what is human, what is machine? Japanese robotics researchers call this weird similarity the “uncanny valley”.
For his play, Stefan Kaegi works with a writer and playwright for the first time: Thomas Melle allowed an animatronic double of himself to be made. This humanoid takes the author’s place and throws up questions: what does it mean for the original when the copy takes over? Does the original get to know himself better through his electronic double? Do the copy and his original compete or do they help each other?
Concept, Text & Direction: Stefan Kaegi
Text / Body / Voice: Thomas Melle
Equipment: Evi Bauer
Animatronic: Chiscreatures Filmeffects GmbH Manufacturing and Art Finish of the silicone head / coloration and hair: Tommy Opatz Dramaturgy: Martin Valdés-Stauber
Video Design: Mikko Gaestel
Musik: Nicolas Neecke
This play from Rimini Protokoll has originally been produced by the Münchner Kammerspiele, in coproduction with Berliner Festspiele – Immersion, donaufestival (Krems), Feodor Elutine (Moscow), FOG Triennale Milano Performing Arts (Milano), Temporada Alta – Festival de Tador de Catalunya (Girona), SPRING Utrecht
SHOWS
Munich, Münchner Kammerspiele 04.10. – 15.11.2018
Salt (Girona), Adjunta de Producció / Festival Temporada Alta 23. – 25.11.2018
Munich, Münchner Kammerspiele 08. – 09.12.2018
Munich, Münchner Kammerspiele 04. – 13.01.2019
Berlin, Berliner Festspiele – Immersion 08. – 17.03.2019
Munich, Münchner Kammerspiele 27. – 29.03.2019
Moscow, Theatre of Nations / Feodor Elutine 04. – 21.04.2019
Krems, Donaufestival 03. – 05.05.2019
Milan, FOG Triennale Milano Performing Arts 09. – 11.05.2019
Munich, Münchner Kammerspiele 17.05.2019
Utrecht, Spring Utrecht 23. – 25.05.2019
Brussels, Kunstenfestivaldesarts 30.05. – 01.06.2019
Munich, Münchner Kammerspiele 14.06.2019 / 29. – 30.06.2019
Essen, Pact Zollverein 10. – 13.07.2019
Groningen, Noorderzon Performing Arts Festival Groningen 16. – 17.08.2019
Hamburg, Kampnagel 21. – 25.08.2019
Zurich, Gessnerallee Zürich 05. – 08.09.2019
Lausanne, Vidy Théâtre Lausanne 25.09. – 10.10.2019
Frankfurt a. M., Mousonturm 13. – 17.10.2019
Nantes, Le Lieu Unique 21. – 24.11.2019
Munich, Münchner Kammerspiele 29. – 30.11.2019
Annecy, Bonlieu Scène National 04. – 06.12.2019
Munich, Münchner Kammerspiele 10. – 11.12.2019 / 14.01.2020
Berlin, Berliner Festspiele (im Rahmen von “20 Jahre Rimini Protokoll”)
28.12. – 11.01.2019 / 28.12.2019 – 11.01.2020
Paris, Centre culturel suisse 30.01. – 02.02.2020
Paris, La Villette 05. – 08.02.2020
Besançon, Les 2 Scénes 12. – 27.02.2020
Prague, Prager Theaterfestival deutscher Sprache / Arche Theater
06. – 07.03.2020
Munich, Münchner Kammerspiele – POSTPONED 09.03.2020 / 13.03.2020
Gent, NT Gent – POSTPONED 20. – 21.03.2020
Leipzig, Schauspiel Leipzig – POSTPONED 04. – 05.04.2020
Amsterdam, Frascati – POSTPONED 08. – 10.04.2020
Dresden, Hellerau – Europäisches Zentrum der Künste – POSTPONED
07. – 10.05.2020
Bern, auawirleben – Theaterfestival Bern 14. – 16.05.2020
Oloumouc (Czech Republic), Flora Theatre Festival – POSTPONED
20. – 21.05.2020
Memmingen, Bayerische Theatertage – POSTPONED 25.05.2020
Rakvere (Estonia), Baltoscandal – POSTPONED 02. – 03.07.2020
Belgrad, BITEF Festival 12. – 13.09.2020
Mainz, Grenzenlos Kultur (Staatstheater Mainz/Kuz) 24. – 25.09.2020
Dresden, HELLERAU – Europäisches Zentrum der Künste 23. – 25.10.2020
Santiago, Santiago A Mil 07. – 14.01.2021
Lugano, Lac Lugano 23.03.2021 / 22.04.2021
Vienna, Volkstheater Wien – POSTPONED 03. – 25.04.2021 / 23. – 25.04.2021
Bern, Auawirleben Festival 14. – 16.05.2021
Graz, Dramatiker*innenfestival 10.06.2021
Sofia, DNK Space 04. – 05.07.2021
Varna , Varna Summer Festival 08. – 09.07.2021
Mannheim, zeitraumexit 16. – 17.07.2021
Sibiu (Romania), International Theatre Festival Sibiu (Screening) 25.08.2021
Stettin, KONTRAPUNKT Festival 04.09.2021
Taipei, National Theatre and Concert Hall Taipei 22. – 24.10.2021
Olomouc (Czech Republic), Flora Theatre Festival Olomouc 12. – 14.11.2021
Dortmund, Exhibition@:dasa 13.11.2021 – 09.08.2022
Heilbronn, Science and Theatre Festival 18. – 19.11.2021
Taipei, Videoinstallation@Taipei Fine Arts Museum 27.11.2021 – 06.03.2022
Vienna, Volkstheater Wien – postponed 02. – 04.12.2021
Strasbourg, Le Maillon 20. – 22.01.2022
Pau (FR), Espaces Plurieles 03. – 04.02.2022
London, Battersea Arts Centre 22. – 26.02.2022
Bonn, Bundeskunsthalle 10. – 11.03.2022
Dresden, Screening @Deutsches Hygiene-Museum Dresden 12.03.2022
Issy-les-Moulineaux, Le Cube 25. – 26.03.2022
Tirol, Osterfestival Tirol 01. – 02.04.2022
São Paolo, MITsp Festival 08. – 11.06.2022
Rakvere (Estonia), Baltoscandal festival 09. – 10.07.2022
Espoo, Finland, The International Theater of Finland 18. – 20.08.2022
Vilnius, Lithuanian National Drama Theatre 28. – 29.09.2022
Sf. Gheorghe, Tamási Áron Theatre’s Reflex 24. – 28.03.2023
Stockholm, Kontrar 28. – 29.04.2023
Linz, Ars Electronica 06. – 10.09.2023
Timișoara, European Theatre Festival Eurothalia 19. – 22.09.2023