Short Message Service: A Theatrical Take on Modern Love

Suzanne de Baecque and Joaquim Fossi present *Short Message Service*, a witty and sensitive radiography of romantic life in the age of smartphones. The show unfolds across seven chapters, blending personal stories, practical experiments, and songs, all inspired by Roland Barthes' *Fragments d'un discours amoureux*. The duo collected testimonies and conversation snippets from friends, strangers, and their own phones, creating a documentary-style exploration of love and dating.

Audiences become part of the performance: at key moments, they are invited to send messages to a displayed number, which appear on stage like a series of love haikus. The piece follows Joaquim, reeling from a long-term breakup, as Suzanne guides him back into the dating world. Set at the CENTQUATRE-PARIS in the 19th arrondissement, this production offers a heartfelt and humorous look at contemporary romance through the lens of technology.