• ABOUT
    “A Dog’s Tale” is an innovative robot puppet performance that explores the relationship between a human, a robot arm, a dog puppet, and a balloon bone. This robot puppet performance presents four movement studies that reveal the fluid roles a robot arm can assume in our perception.
    At what point does an object transform into a muscle, motor, or protagonist? Who controls whom in this technological dance?

    DEVELOPMENT
    A Dog’s Tale emerged from the Center Stage Robotics residency. The collaboration involved Ulrike Quade Company, Utrecht University, and Elrat during a six-month intensive program.
    During the residency, we learned to program the Kuka210 robot arm using RoboDK software. We developed this skill using Etienne Decroux’s corporeal mime études as choreographic content.

    Mark Twain’s short story “A Dog’s Tale” inspired the performance. The story explores themes of power, servitude, and the complex relationship between humans and animals. Therefore, we intended to enrich Twain’s perspective with the current ideas on robotic and human relations.

    Through our exploration, we discovered how the robot arm could animate the dog puppet. We programmed hundreds of points to make it walk, jump, sit and play. Transforming industrial machinery into something empathic and alive. From this playful yet dangerous energy, we let the Kuka move with a bone-shaped balloon. A childlike perception slips into its machinery. Finally, human and robot dance in synchrony, mirroring each other’s movements in a delicate negotiation of shared space and future possibilities. We envision expanding the work with audience interaction features and exploring applications with a robot dog and real dog.

    TEAM
    Concept, performance Niek Vanoosterweyck & Marijn Brussaard
    Sound Marijn Brussaard
    Video     Erfan Abdi
    Kuka engineer Rick van Dugteren, Event Robotics
    Puppet design Matt Jackson
    Made possible by Ulrike Quade Company, Elrat, Universiteit Utrecht, Bram Ellens
    Performed at DeSloot Festival, Theater Utrecht, Future Stages Almere

  • This work is open for development and specific adaptations based on client needs. We see clear possibilities to explore, expand, and co-create around these themes and subjects. Please inquire for more information if you find this project worthy of co-production.