Artificial by Nature is a minimalist opera by Dutch theatre group Nineties, featuring performers Annelinde Bruijs and Yannick Noomen as two humanoid robots. Through an electronic musical composition and philosophical reflections, the performance explores questions about what it means to be human. Inspired by the ideas of philosopher Helmuth Plessner, the piece examines the relationship between instinct, consciousness, and the artificial structures humans create around their lives.

About the Performance

Artificial by Nature is a one-hour minimalist opera created by the Dutch theatre group Nineties. In the performance, Annelinde Bruijs and Yannick Noomen appear as two humanoid robots who reflect on the nature of human existence through an electronic musical composition.

The work draws inspiration from the ideas of philosopher Helmuth Plessner, who argued that humans are “artificial by nature.” According to this perspective, human beings can both experience themselves and observe themselves from a distance. Unlike animals, humans construct their lives through language, technology, and tools while continually questioning their own instincts.

Through music, repetition, and vocal expression, the performance reflects on questions such as what motivates people in their daily lives and how humans attempt to understand themselves. The result is a musical reflection on the tension between instinct and consciousness and on the ongoing search for identity.

Director Anne Maike Mertens describes robots as a perspective that allows people to observe humanity from a distance. Actor and composer Annelinde Bruijs explores how thinking itself can sound, using rhythm, repetition, and artificial voice distortion to express the sense of alienation between people and their own self-perception.

Cast & Creatives

Concept
Nineties, Annelinde Bruijs

Director
Anne Maike Mertens

Performers
Yannick Noomen
Annelinde Bruijs

Dramaturgy & Stage Design
Julian Maiwald

Technical Direction
Marcel Janssen

Sound Design
Aya Dupont

Costume Design
Elsemarijn Bruijs

Production Management
Barbara Reijs

Public Relations & Marketing
De Wolven

Creative Producer
Vevi van der Vliet

Poster / Key Visual Design
Joost de Haas

Special Thanks: Han van Wieringen

About the Company

Nineties (Productions) is a Dutch theatre collective founded in 2013. The group focuses on experimental performance and narrative forms that accommodate multiple perspectives. Their work often combines theatre with other formats such as installations, performances, and audio walks, choosing the form and location that best suits each project.

The collective includes director and theatre maker Anne Maike Mertens, actor and theatre maker Yannick Noomen, and creative producer Vevi van der Vliet, working in collaboration with artists from different disciplines. Nineties has presented works including Untitled (2017), Noir, and Merkel, and has received structural support from the Performing Arts Fund and the Amsterdam Fund for the Arts since 2021. In 2023, the group received a Golden Calf nomination for Best Digital Cultural Production for their multimedia installation To be continued.