Artefact, by the Théâtre Nouvelle Génération / Joris Mathieu

In 1988, director Joris Mathieu founded his theatre company, Haut et Court, in Lyon. A recent university graduate with a degree in performing arts, he was quickly recognised for his talent and took part in residencies at different theatres and institutions. His original conception of theatre incorporates new digital and stagecraft tools, including video and new technologies. Since 2011, he has directed more than ten shows, including Urbik/Orbik (2011) inspired by science fiction author Philip K. Dick, Acrobates (2013), Hikikomori - le refuge (2016) and Artefact (2017). Since January 2015 Joris Mathieu has been Director of the Théâtre Nouvelle Génération – Centre dramatique national de Lyon.

For his installation and show Artefact, Joris Mathieu doesn’t use a single actor. At each performance, the director invites around forty spectators to wander through an immersive installation, in the midst of which they encounter holograms, robots, virtual voices and 3D printers.

Artefact gives us an overview of a dehumanized world, dominated by technology and virtual interactions, challenging viewers to question the evolution and future of humanity.

Created in 2017 at the Théâtre Nouvelle Génération — Centre dramatique national de Lyon, Artefact was developed in collaboration with the artistic collective Haut et Court and the set and lighting designer Nicolas Boudier.

With this 45-minute show, Joris Mathieu wanted first of all to address the younger viewers from the digital generation, “so that they can face reality” and “build the world of tomorrow”.

Co-produced by Le Grand R, the national theatre of La Roche-sur-Yon and the Le Merlan national theatre of Marseille, Artefact has been shown in Lyon, Grenoble, Nancy and Nantes. In 2017, the show was on the programme at Micro Mondes, a festival of live shows dedicated to immersive contemporary creation.