Jess and Morgs' 'Deepfake' uses dance and tech to explore truth in the digital age

The latest production from award-winning dance duo Jessica Wright and Morgann Runacre-Temple, collectively known as Jess and Morgs, is titled 'Deepfake.' This ambitious work delves into the contemporary anxieties surrounding fabricated digital media and its profound impact on our understanding of truth. The piece masterfully combines virtuosic choreography with sophisticated green-screen technology and live camera work, creating a theatrical experience that mirrors the high-stakes intensity of televised interviews and the pervasive skepticism that deepfake technology can engender. A particularly striking scene within 'Deepfake' features a politician, depicted in a state of disarray outside Buckingham Palace, vehemently denying fabricated accusations of participating in a pagan ceremony with minor members of the royal family. While this scenario is a theatrical construct within the dance studio, its unsettling plausibility in the current media climate underscores the core thematic concerns of the production.

Jess and Morgs have cultivated a distinctive artistic practice characterized by their engagement with modern narratives and their innovative integration of technology. They are drawn to projects where the thematic content and the performance form intersect, aiming to reflect the complexities of the contemporary world back to their audiences. This approach yielded significant acclaim in 2022 with their commission for Scottish Ballet, 'Coppélia.' This reimagining of the classic 19th-century ballet, originally centered on a dancing doll, was transformed into a prescient cautionary tale about the perils of artificial intelligence, the unchecked ambitions of "tech bro" culture, and the ethical implications of unrestrained technological advancement. The success of 'Coppélia' solidified their reputation as more than one-hit wonders.

Further testament to their growing international stature, Jess and Morgs recently made their debut at the highly esteemed Paris Opera Ballet. This engagement at one of the world's most venerable and influential dance institutions highlights the critical recognition their innovative work has received. Their consistent exploration of relevant, often technologically driven, themes, coupled with their technical prowess in seamlessly integrating digital elements with live performance, positions 'Deepfake' as a timely and intellectually stimulating production. The piece directly challenges the audience to confront the difficulty of discerning truth in an era where digital manipulation can generate convincing, yet entirely false, realities, thereby opening up "a gap of doubt and scepticism about everything."