IN SHORT ⟶ Uncanny Valley, conceived and directed by Stefan Kaegi, centers around an animatronic humanoid as the protagonist. It assumes the role of an author, posing a series of urgent questions on topics such as copy/original, artificial intelligence, technology, and the control of human bodies.
For the theatre work Uncanny Valley, Stefan Kaegi / Rimini Protokoll collaborates not only with an animatronic double but, for the first time, with human writer and screenwriter Thomas Melle. The humanoid in question takes the place of the author, enabling to ask himself questions: What happens to the original when its copy prevails? Can the original come to understand themself better through its electronic double? How do the copy and the original compete?
We tend to view robots primarily as machines, efficient and precise task performers. In German industry, they are designed to scarcely resemble humans to avoid emotional implications. In Asia, however, humanoid robots have been under development for some time, such as those intended for care work or erotic functions. An outward resemblance to humans makes them easier to accept. Yet, if the machine looks like a human too closely, we are perturbed: what is human, and what is machine? Japanese robotics researchers refer to this unsettling resemblance as the “uncanny valley.”
Rimini Protokoll will be also present at Short Theatre 2024 with their urban itinerary piece The Walks guided by Stefan Kaegi.
Rimini Protokoll is a theatre group founded by Helgard Haug, Stefan Kaegi and Daniel Wetzel in 2000. Piece by piece, they have expanded the abilities of theatre to create new perspectives on reality, often creating theatrical performances, interventions, stage installations and radio programs with industry experts who have themselves acquired their knowledge and skills outside of theatre. They love transposing spaces or social realities into theatrical formats. Many of their works are characterised by interactivity and a playful approach to technology. The plays All right. Goodnight. (2022), Chinchilla Arschloch, waswas (2020), Situation Rooms (2014), as well as Wallenstein (2006) and Deadline (2004) were invited to the prestigious Theatertreffen festival in Berlin. Furthermore, Rimini Protokoll received the Mülheim Dramaturgy Prize for the work Karl Marx’s Capital: first volume, the Faust theatre prize, the theatre Grand Prix from the Swiss Federal Office of Culture, the European Theatre Prize, the Leone d’Argento at the Venice Biennale Teatro and the German Radio Play Prize as well as the War Blinded Audio Play Prize. Rimini Protokoll’s production office has been located in Berlin since 2003.
Stefan Kaegi creates documentary theatre works, audio interventions, curatorial presentations and works for the urban environment around a variety of collaborations. Through research, public readings and conceptual processes, he often gives voice to “experts” who are not professional actors but do have something to say. Most of his works are made under the Rimini Protokoll label.
concept, text and direction Stefan Kaegi
text, body, voice Thomas Melle
equipment Evi Bauer
animatronic Chiscreatures Filmeffects GmbH
manufacturing and art finish of the silicone head Tommy Opatz
manufacturing and art finishing of the silicone head and colouring (2023) Ina Chochol
hair punching Susanna Lang
mounting-systems and rework animatronic Jörg Steegmüller/Steegmüller Skulpturen
dramaturgy Martin Valdés-Staube
video design Mikko Gaestel
music Nicolas Neecke
production management Rimini Protokoll
touring Monica Ferrari
light design Robert Läßig
sound and video design Jaromir Zezula
originally produced by Münchner Kammerspiele
in co-production with Berliner Festspiele – Immersion, donaufestival (Krems), Feodor Elutine (Mosca), FOG Triennale Milano Performing Arts (Milano), Temporada Alta – Festival de Tador de Catalunya (Girona), SPRING Utrecht
performing rights Rowohlt Theater Verlag, Reinbek bei Hamburg
in collaboration with Accademia Tedesca di Roma Villa Massimo and Goethe-Institut, funded by Ministero degli Affari Esteri Tedesco
ph. Gabriela Neeb
