Giuseppe Chico & Barbara Matijević

In the past decade, Giuseppe Chico and Barbara Matijević have explored the use of the Internet, web culture and digital practices. Our Daily Performance looks at YouTube tutori-als. In the space of a few years, the platform has become the go to place for know-how, hosting billions of videos of all kinds. Every day, millions of people share their expertise and practices. Giuseppe Chico and Barbara Matijević dip into the pot to twist and reshape tutorials, creating incongruous situations and new attitudes with witty humour. How can companies improve team cohesion? How do you write a rap based on a collection of tweets? What’s the best way to fall at home? Valentine’s day fitness sessions for couples. The ideal way to combine Christian practice and martial arts. Midway between irony and seriousness, the duo performs a series of live “how-tos” for today’s world.

After studying theatre in Italy, Giuseppe Chico moved to Paris where he trained in dance. For several years he performed with the company Mille Plateaux Associés and also worked with Georges Appaix, Anja Hempel and Joris Lacoste. In 2008, with Barbara Matijević, he founded the company Premier Stratagème in Paris, a project based on their respective backgrounds in dance and theatre. Together, the duo created a number of shows and performances that toured in Europe and internationally.

Barbara Matijević studied languages and lit-erature in parallel with dance and acting in Zagreb (Croatia). With Giuseppe Chico, she is the founder and artistic co-director of the theatre company Premier Stratagème based in Paris. In her work she explores the impact of digital culture on storytelling through autofictional performances, lecture performances, radio plays, group choreographies, photo exhibitions and installations. Her work has been presented in over 35 countries, in theatre and dance venues, film festivals, art galleries and museums. As a dancer and actress she has worked with a number of choreographers and theatre directors in France, Croatia, Slovenia and Belgium (Boris Charmatz, Joris Lacoste, Bojan Jablanovac). She has taught at Osijek Art Academy, Zagreb Dance Academy, Helsinki Academy of Fine Arts and Lasalle College in Singapore. Invited by the Opéra de Lyon, Barbara Matijevi´c created in 2022 the solo for ballet dancer Coralie Levieux, as part of the cycle Danser Encore.