The Companion / WAUHAUS

One-to-one ● max 20 min ● Arrive 10 min before booked time ● ENG

A private encounter between one audience member and a robotic dog.

“These robots can’t feel, but we feel for them …” Kate Darling, The New Breed: What Our History with Animals Reveals about Our Future with Robots (Henry Colt & Co 2021) The Companion is a private encounter between one audience member and a robotic dog. In the performance, the robot entices the human participant into different negotiations, interactions, and play. The encounter harnesses our innate curiosity and empathy towards all moving beings. What kind of agency are we willing to embrace? Are we ready to surrender to and trust a non-human companion?

WAUHAUS is a Helsinki-based multidisciplinary arts collective that was founded in 2016. Their works are situated between different genres of art and have taken place at various venues, such as gallery spaces, small black box venues, urban sites, large stadiums, and the main stages of established theatre houses. WAUHAUS is known for their comprehensive audiovisual stage aesthetics and methods of shared authorship. The members of WAUHAUS are scenographer Laura Haapakangas, director Juni Klein, scenographer Samuli Laine, sound designer Jussi Matikainen, choreographer Jarkko Partanen, sound designer Heidi Soidinsalo, producer Minttu-Maria Jäävuori and managing director Julia Hovi. The collective collaborates with other artists and institutions both in Finland and abroad.

Artists Jarkko Partanen, Jussi Matikainen, Laura Haapakangas from WAUHAUS Visual Design of the robot: Kari Kankaanpää
Lighting Design Mia Jalerva
Software Development Aki Panuma (Probot)
Producer Julia Hovi
Co-production WAUHAUS (Helsinki), Black Box teater (Oslo), Kiasma Theatre (Helsinki). In collaboration with Probot
Supported by Nordic Culture Point, Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, The Arts Promotion Centre Finland, City of Helsinki

→ www.wauhaus.fi/thecompanion