The first year of the international festival of multimedia and multi-genre theater “LATERNA FEST” will happened between 21 and 26 June, and will present to the Czech audience the best theatrical productions that work with digital technologies.
The creators from France, Belgium, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic will bring three productions, interactive exhibitions, workshops and discussions. The first year of the festival aims to present different aspects of the use of new technologies in theatrical work and addresses the question of how these connections move the development of theater forward and vice versa, where technology distances us from immediate experience.
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“LANTERNA FEST” combines various media and modern technologies and explores how this combination can enhance theatre experience
Laterna magika – the first multimedia theatre in the world, internationally renowned for its unique poetic performances – organises the first year of its multimedia and multi-genre festival “Laterna fest”, which combines various media and modern technologies.
The festival will present artists from France, Belgium, Hungary, Slovakia, and Czechia in three performances, interactive exhibitions, VR experiences, workshops, and a discussion. The first festival year aims to illustrate different aspects of modern technologies applied in theatre productions and explores how this combination can enhance theatre experience or, to the contrary, where technologies pose a barrier to immediate perception.
The ongoing technological innovations and simultaneously worsening environmental crisis are the two main themes common to the festival programme.
We should have started to adapt to the crisis yesterday, claimed 270 scientists from 76 countries in a recent declaration. Changing our stereotypes is the only possible solution. The insistence on nonsensical day-to-day habits is portrayed in the Belgian performance Dimanche (Sunday), a story told in three acts, each dealing with a different natural disaster: the rise in global temperatures, the violence of hurricanes and the devastating impact of Tsunamis.
In the same vein, the production Acqua Alta – Ink black by French duo Adrien M and Claire B tells of the moment when natural disaster strikes, of the fear of otherness, and how to tame it. A way out from the overwhelming frustration and climate grief can be found in rituals, nature, and mutual empathy, as shown for example in the VR projects Kykeon and Constellation of the Flesh of Slovakian artist Mária Júdová, which offer multi-sensory experiences of shamanism.
The festival audience will see multi-genre works created using digital mapping, virtual reality, extended reality, interactive projection, and robotics, but also stories where the living human part is told through physical theatre, puppet theatre and dance.
Laterna fest 2022 programme
“LANTERNA FEST” starts on Thursday 21 June, with Acqua Alta! An project with three parts: a show, a book and a VR experience
The Adrien M & Claire B Company is acting in the fields of the digital arts and performing arts. The projects are directed by Claire Bardainne and Adrien Mondot. They create many forms of art, from stage performances to exhibitions combining real and virtual worlds with IT tools that were developed and customized specifically for them. They place the human body at the heart of techno- logical and artistic challenges and adapt today’s techno- logical tools to create a timeless poetry through a visual language based on playing and enjoyment, which breeds imagination.
Acqua Alta – Ink black is a story. A woman, a man, a house. A daily routine, absurd and filled with discrepancies. But one wet rainy day, their life is turned upside down: the rising waters drown their home in an ink-coloured sea. The woman slips and disappears. Only her hair remains, and it is alive. It tells the tale of a disaster, unique and universal. It tells of losing and searching. It tells of the fear of the bizarre and otherness, and how to tame it.
An accompanying part of the performance is Acqua Alta – Crossing the mirror: a book whose drawings and paper volumes become the décor of the story, only visible in augmented reality and immersive VR installation Tête-à-tête. The installation is presented on the ground floor of the New Scene, at the Gallery magika, which shows the accompanying visual works.
The company Adrien M & Claire B places its work in the field of digital arts since 2004. Today, the company counts around 30 collaborators. Its headquarter and production offices are based in Lyon (Rhône, France) and a research and creation venue in Crest (Drôme, France).
Cast / Performers
Dimitri Hatton, Satchie Noro
Creatives
Concept and artistic direction:
Claire Bardainne, Adrien Mondot
Drawings and animation:
Claire Bardainne
Computer design:
Adrien Mondot
Choreography:
Dimitri Hatton et Satchie Noro
Original music:
Olivier Mellano
Additional music:
Jean-Sébastien Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Jon Brion
Computer development:
Rémi Engel
Paper engineering:
Eric Singelin
Script doctor:
Marietta Ren
Digital interpretation and lighting:
Benoît Fenayon
Sound design:
Clément Aubry
Construction:
Jérémy Chartier, Yan Godat, Arnaud Gonzalez, Claire Gringore, Yannick Moréteau
Technical management:
Romain Sicard
Technical direction:
Alexis Bergeron
Administration:
Marek Vuiton, assisted by Mathis Guyetand
Technical direction:
Raphaël Guénot
Production and booking:
Joanna Rieussec
Production:
Margaux Fritsch, Juli Allard-Schaefer, Delphine Teypaz
Mediation:
Johanna Guerreiro
See photo: © Romain Etienne/item and © Adrien M & Claire B
VIRTUAL BALLET WORKSHOP on Thursday 23 June! In-between dance and technology, Workshop with Mária Júdová @ 10am I New Stage – ballet hall (workshop)
A workshop led by digital artist Mária Júdová, based on experimentation and exploring the possibilities of how virtual reality can be used creatively in the context of performance art.
The workshop is intended for choreographers, dancers and performers who want to learn how to use digital tools, such as virtual reality, in movement. Furthermore, it is open for filmmakers, directors and artists who are interested in movement.
At the beginning, Mária will present her work (Kykeon, Constellation of the flesh, Everywhen 360°) and show how she works with dance in virtual reality in her artistic work and research. She reveals the background of the creation of works, explains how and why she connects these worlds, and vice versa where she sees the limits of these collaborations.
The conceptual introduction will be followed by a practical part. Participants will explore what the body and technology can actually offer each other. They will create a short motion sequence for virtual reality, with the aim of being inspired and looking for ways in which digital tools can determine and shape further movement creation.
Mária Júdová is an independent visual artist who has been investigating the creative potential of technology for over a decade. She is particularly interested in exploring the intersection of digital and performance arts. Her work spans from (interactive) installations and Virtual Reality experiences to audio-visual performances. She received her BA in Digital Media at the Academy of Arts (SK) and MA at the Centre for Audiovisual Studies (CZ). She has worked with renowned bodies such as Choreographic Coding Lab (DE), Rambert Contemporary Dance Company (UK) and YCAM (JP). Her works have been presented worldwide and awarded by Japan Media Arts Festival (JP), B3 Biennale (DE), Nexon Computer Museum (Korea) and Zealous (UK).
