Photo : Simon Gosselin
Suzanne de Baecque & Joaquim Fossi - Short Message Service
Step into a witty, modern-day exploration of dating apps and text-based romance that turns heartbreak into a shared stage experience. You will even become part of the narrative by sending live messages that ripple through the performance in real time. It is a brilliant, feel-good take on the chaos of modern connections that promises to leave you smiling.
Le CENTQUATRE-PARIS (104) (Paris 19th)
About
Suzanne de Baecque and Joaquim Fossi bring Short Message Service to Le CENTQUATRE-PARIS, a theatrical performance examining romantic encounters in the age of smartphones. Inspired by Roland Barthes, the duo weaves together songs, personal stories, and documentary findings to explore the complexities of love today. This performance stands out for its interactive nature, as attendees are invited to send messages that appear live on stage throughout the seven-chapter show. Lasting 1h20, this sound-centered experience is fully accessible to visitors with reduced mobility, with ticket prices ranging from 10 to 22 euros.
Joaquim is heartbroken after a long relationship, the first and only love story he thought would last a lifetime. Fortunately, Suzanne, her experience, and her good advice are there to get him back on the path of flirting – or on the market. Like a sentimental education in the age of the mobile phone, Short Message Service unfolds stories, practical experiments, and songs over seven chapters where romance is never far away.
Conceived as a reinterpretation of Roland Barthes' A Lover's Discourse: Fragments, the play is also the result of documentary work. Suzanne de Baecque and Joaquim Fossi collected testimonies and snippets of conversations from their entourage, on the street, or from their own phones. At various moments, the audience is invited to send messages to a number that are displayed on stage, like a series of love haikus.
Our take on this event
At Le CENTQUATRE-PARIS, Suzanne de Baecque and Joaquim Fossi delve into the trials of modern dating in Short Message Service. The story follows Joaquim, a man reeling from a breakup, as he receives dating advice and mentorship from Suzanne. Structured in seven chapters, the play functions as a contemporary take on sentimental education, blending real-life testimonies and music to navigate the nuances of romantic life in the digital era.
The project stems from an extensive documentary process, incorporating conversations collected from the street and the artists' own personal devices. The performance is primarily sound-based and interactive; the audience participates by sending text messages that are projected on stage during the show, acting as ephemeral love haikus. It is a thoughtful exploration of how we communicate feelings.
Performances run from November 19 to November 28, 2026. Showtimes are 20:30 from November 19 to 21, 18:00 on Sunday, November 22, and 20:00 from Tuesday, November 24 to Saturday, November 28. Each session lasts 1h20. Tickets are available from 10 to 22 euros. The venue provides full access for individuals with reduced mobility.
