Solène Wachter's debut group piece
Solène Wachter's debut group piece, The Spectacle Machine, was presented at Chaillot, exploring the behind-the-scenes elements of theatrical production. The performance, described by some as more akin to the making of a film than a traditional live performance, featured elements such as trickery, special effects, and stunts.Wachter's background and influences
Wachter, trained at CNDC in Angers and PARTS, the school of Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker in Brussels, and having worked as an interpreter for Boris Charmatz, Maud Le Pladec, and Némo Flouret, had previously been noticed at the Avignon Festival 2025 in Logbook with Bryana Fritz within the framework of Vive le Sujet!.Revealing the hidden aspects of performance
The choreographer aimed to bring to the stage what is typically hidden in the wings, revealing the elements that contribute to the illusion of a performance. When the curtain rods were raised, the audience saw the mats cushioning falls, the wires supporting the performers, and the calls for light and sound that are usually unseen.Performance style and staging
A female quartet performed with an energetic vocabulary rooted in sports such as boxing or kickboxing, and repeated gestures reminiscent of the Amazons drawing arrows from their quivers. A noise musician accompanied the sound and visual elements on a stage divided into two by a curtain made of blue plastic slats and corrugated metal sheets.Challenges in execution
While there were many good scenic ideas, the attempt to show too much of the cuts, restarts, and adjustments—typically part of the rehearsal process—resulted in a rhythm and dramaturgy that were not well mastered.
