Photo : César Vayssié
"Machine à spectacle" by Solène Wachter
Forget the glitter and dive into the fascinating inner workings of live performance. Solène Wachter deconstructs stage adrenaline through a trio of performers and a stuntwoman, revealing the intense preparation behind every heart-stopping moment. It is a brilliant way to uncover the grit and mechanics that make the magic happen.
Chaillot - Théâtre national de la Danse (Paris 16th)
About
Choreographer Solène Wachter pulls back the curtain on the mechanics of stage performance in "Machine à spectacle." Through a blend of technical apparatus, acrobatic feats, and the presence of a stunt performer, the piece explores the tension between physical effort and the illusion of ease. Staged at Chaillot - Théâtre national de la Danse, this one-hour production is suitable for audiences from age 8 and up. The venue provides full wheelchair access, ensuring that everyone can discover the hidden labor behind spectacular stage effects while enjoying a performance that celebrates the raw intensity of movement and suspension.
More than the spectacle itself, Solène Wachter loves understanding the mechanisms and behind-the-scenes work that allow the sensation to happen. For Machine à spectacle, she tackles the adrenaline of the show. On stage, she installs structures, apparatuses, and technical devices that create an environment where the three performers and the stuntwoman concretely grapple with falling, suspension, and momentum. Yes, the stuntwoman! A heroine if ever there was one in action movies. Who better to embody virtuosity, danger, and illusion?
Solène Wachter is already a great performer and choreographer. She has often danced with the greatest, from Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker to Boris Charmatz, and now she writes her own pieces. In her previous work, FOR YOU / NOT FOR YOU, she divided the audience to simultaneously reveal the front and back of the show. Already.
She pushes her reflection further in Machine à spectacle, with its explicit title. The "machine" is the stage, where the body must constantly negotiate with technique. She does not seek the exploit. What she wants to show is what is hidden behind every spectacular effect. The share of training, suffering, and repetition that allows for the apparent erasure of all the immense difficulties.
Accessible from age 8, Machine à spectacle is a great show! Showing, revealing takes nothing away from the "wow" effect. On the contrary, it provides the keys to understand what makes our jaws drop when faced with the power of an image that seems, only seemingly, so easy.
Amélie Blaustein-Niddam
Duration: 1h
Category:
- Ages 8 and up, Young audience
- Dance
- Performance adapted for spectators with psychological disabilities: Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Meeting with the artists after the performance: Friday, October 16, 2026
- School performance: Thursday, October 15, 2026
Our take on this event
Solène Wachter brings "Machine à spectacle" to Chaillot - Théâtre national de la Danse, offering a deep dive into the technical and physical processes that define live performance. By integrating rigs and specialized structures, the performers and a professional stunt person test the limits of gravity, balance, and momentum. The work aims to demystify the spectacle, revealing the repetitive training and silent endurance required to create seemingly effortless visual impact.
The show runs from October 14 to October 17, 2026. Performances take place on Wednesday, Oct 14 and Friday, Oct 16 at 19:30, Thursday, Oct 15 at 14:30, and Saturday, Oct 17 at 17:00. Tickets are priced between 10 and 25 euros. The performance lasts for 1 hour and is recommended for viewers aged 8 and older.
Accessibility is a priority at the venue, with full facilities for wheelchair users. A specially adapted performance for individuals with cognitive disabilities is scheduled for Saturday, Oct 17. Those interested in the creative process can join a post-show artist talk on Friday, Oct 16. Thursday, Oct 15 is dedicated to school groups.
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