Vertical Détour - Frédéric Ferrer

What Vertical Détour - Frédéric Ferrer does

Vertical Détour is a French performing arts company (Compagnie Vertical Détour), founded in 2001 by Frédéric Ferrer and headquartered in Bagnolet, Seine-Saint-Denis. The company develops and tours a catalog of original theatrical "conference-spectacles" that combine documentary writing, oral performance, and projected imagery to investigate environmental, scientific, and geopolitical topics. Its core output is organized into three ongoing cycles: the Atlas de l'anthropocène (eight cartographies from 2010 through an announced 2027 production), Chroniques du réchauffement (six productions since 2005 on climate themes), and Olympicorama (fifteen episodes from 2019-2024 analyzing Olympic disciplines ahead of Paris 2024). The methodology is rooted in field research, laboratory visits, satellite imagery, and collaboration with scientific bodies including the CNES Arts-Sciences laboratory.

The company operates with a small permanent team (5 employees) and a long-term artistic residency at the Centre de Réadaptation de Coubert since 2016, where it has developed the 'Le Vaisseau' artistic factory. It is conventioned (publicly subsidized) by DRAC Île-de-France, the Région Île-de-France, and the Département de Seine-et-Marne, and its productions are typically coproduced with French scènes nationales, national theaters, and cultural foundations (La Villette, Maison des Métallos, Fondation Cartier, Théâtre des Îlets, Scène nationale d'Albi, Le Gallia, Le Quartz, and others).

The business model is event-driven: the company produces touring theatrical works booked and coproduced by French and select European (Belgium, Switzerland) cultural venues. Revenue flows from public subsidies (conventionnement), institutional coproduction shares, and performance fees paid by venues. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Customer segments are (1) French theaters, scènes nationales, and cultural venues booking productions, and (2) general public audiences attending performances. Geographic reach spans all 12 French metropolitan régions plus limited activity in Switzerland and Belgium.

Name

Vertical Détour - Frédéric Ferrer

Legal name

Compagnie Vertical Détour

Website

https://verticaldetour.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vertical Détour is a French performing arts company founded in 2001 that creates and tours original documentary-theatrical "conference-spectacles" on environmental, scientific, and geopolitical topics. It serves French scènes nationales, cultural venues, and public audiences through coproduced touring productions and public cultural funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Documentary Theater

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Touring Theatre Productions (MPAGABAC)

Keywords

• Documentary theater
• Conference-spectacle performances
• Environmental theater productions
• Performing arts company
• Theatrical touring productions

Headquarters

HQ city

Bagnolet

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Theatrical productions and performances: The company generates revenue through producing and performing theatrical works at venues, festivals, and cultural centers across France. Productions are typically coproduced with cultural institutions and supported by public funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Vertical Détour creates and tours original documentary-theatrical "conference-spectacles" combining writing, oral presentation, and projected imagery drawn from field research, satellite imagery, and scientific documents. The company produces distinct theatrical cycles (Atlas de l'anthropocène, Chroniques du réchauffement, Olympicorama) and standalone performances that are booked and coproduced by French theaters, scènes nationales, and cultural festivals for public audiences.

Product overview

Vertical Détour - Frédéric Ferrer is a French theater company creating multidisciplinary conference-performances. The core offerings include the Atlas de l'anthropocène cycle (8 cartography-themed environmental performances from 2010-2027), the Olympicorama series (15 Olympic-themed conferences from 2019-2024), and Chroniques du réchauffement (6 climate-focused productions since 2005). Additional works include theatrical explorations of polar bears, international climate negotiations, and adaptations of literary works. The company employs theatrical conference formats combining documentary research, scientific collaboration, and performing arts to explore ecological, geopolitical, and social themes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Atlas de l'anthropocène: Theatrical cycle exploring topics related to the Anthropocene through documentary theater, including cartographies on ducks, Vikings, mosquitoes, the North Pole, space exploration, cod, rabbits, and peas
• Chroniques du réchauffement
• Olympicorama
• Le Vaisseau
• Borderlines Investigations
• Out of cycles

Products and services

• Atlas de l'anthropocène (cycle) A multi-show theatrical cycle exploring Anthropocene themes (ducks, Vikings, mosquitoes, ice, exoplanets, cod, rabbits, peas) through conference-performances that venues book and tour; aimed at French theaters, scènes nationales, and festivals seeking documentary-theatrical programming.
• À la recherche des canards perdus, cartographie 1 Standalone cartography 1 of the Atlas de l'anthropocène cycle, examining a NASA Greenland duck experiment as a lens on climate warming; toured to French theaters and festivals.
• Les Vikings et les satellites, cartographie 2 Standalone cartography 2 examining the role of ice, Viking climate history, and satellite observations of Greenland; toured to French venues.
• Les Déterritorialisations du vecteur, cartographie 3 Standalone cartography 3 examining the spread of the tiger mosquito and the geography of epidemics; toured to French theaters.
• Pôle Nord, cartographie 4 Standalone cartography 4 exploring the Arctic as a zone of accelerated climate change and geopolitical stakes; toured to French theaters including with coproduction from Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain.
• WOW ! cartographie 5 Standalone cartography 5 investigating the possibilities of living elsewhere in the universe, examining exoplanets and space colonization; coproduced with Le Gallia Théâtre Cinéma (Saintes) and L'Observatoire de l'Espace – CNES.
• De la morue, cartographie 6 Standalone cartography 6 exploring cod fish, the Cod Wars, and the geopolitics of marine territories and borders including Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon; coproduced with Théâtre des Îlets (CDN de Montluçon) and Scène nationale d'Albi.
• Le problème lapin, cartographie 7 Standalone cartography 7 using the rabbit to explore invasive species, ecological collapse, and planetary health; coproduced with Maison des Métallos (Paris), with upcoming tours including Théâtre d'Annonay, L'Archipel Scène nationale (Perpignan), and Le Volcan Scène nationale (Le Havre).
• Olympicorama Multi-episode theatrical project analyzing Olympic disciplines from 2019 to 2024, presented at La Villette (Paris) as a live site for JO 2024; aimed at venues and cultural programmers tied to Olympic cultural programming.
• Chroniques du réchauffement Theatrical cycle exploring human landscapes through climate change, including works on climate negotiations and polar bears; six productions developed since 2005 and toured to French theaters.
• Sunamik Pigialik ? Theatrical production exploring the polar bear's fate and climate change, combining zoo, conference, Antarctic journey, and spaceship narratives; coproduced with Le Quai (Angers) and La Friche (Viry-Châtillon).
• Kyoto Forever Theatrical conference in which eight performers portray nation-characters negotiating post-Kyoto climate agreements; part of the Chroniques du réchauffement cycle.
• Kyoto Forever 2 Sequel to Kyoto Forever examining international climate negotiations after the Copenhagen failure, depicting COP 28 preparations in Mauritius; part of the Chroniques du réchauffement cycle.
• Comment Nicole a tout pété Public debate-performance about mining and climate featuring farmers, fishermen, and politicians discussing lithium extraction and CO2; coproduced with Théâtre Durance (Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban), Le Quartz (Brest), La Rose des vents (Villeneuve d'Ascq), ZEF (Marseille), and CCAM (Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy).
• La Parole Errante Theatrical adaptation based on Armand Gatti's work, following words through global historical journeys; the company's inaugural 2001 production.
• Apoplexification à l'aide de la râpe à noix de muscade Conference freely inspired by John Haslam's 'Illustrations of Madness', exploring criminal networks through G.R.I.M.E. research; a 2004 standalone production.

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Maison des Métallos (Paris)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproduction partner for Le problème lapin, cartographie 7 and other productions. Cultural venue in Paris providing institutional support and production resources.
• Le Domaine d'O (Montpellier)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDomaine departmental d'art et de culture in Hérault, Montpellier. Partner for multiple Atlas de l'anthropocène cartographies including À la recherche des canards perdus, cartographie 1.
• La Chartreuse - Centre national des écritures du spectaclecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational center for stage writing. Partner for multiple productions including Vikings et satellites cartographie 2 and Comment j'ai appris à arrêter de m'inquiéter.
• L'Observatoire de l'Espace - CNEScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts-Sciences laboratory of the French National Centre for Space Studies. Collaborator on multiple productions including À la recherche des canards perdus, Les Vikings et les satellites, and WOW! cartographie 5.
• Centre de Réadaptation de Coubert (UGECAM Île-de-France)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term residency location since 2016. Home to 'Le Vaisseau' artistic factory. Open to artists, patients, health professionals, and locals for artistic practice and interactions.
• L'Etablissement Public de Santé de Ville-EvrardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic health establishment. Partner for multiple productions across Atlas de l'anthropocène and Chroniques du réchauffement cycles.
• La Villette (Paris)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor cultural venue in Paris. Coproduction partner for Olympicorama series and live site for JO 2024. Created multiple Olympic trials from 2019-2024.
• Théâtre des Îlets - CDN de MontluçonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentre dramatique national (national theater) in Montluçon. Coproduction partner for De la morue, cartographie 6.
• Scène nationale d'AlbimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational stage in Albi. Coproduction partner for De la morue, cartographie 6.
• Le Gallia Théâtre Cinéma (Saintes)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScene conventionnée in Saintes. Coproduction partner for WOW! cartographie 5.
• Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporainmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation for contemporary art. Coproduction partner for Pôle Nord, cartographie 4.
• Théâtre Durance Scène Nationale (Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScene nationale in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Coproduction and premiere venue for Comment Nicole a tout pété (2025).
• Le Quartz Scène nationale (Brest)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScene nationale in Brest. Coproduction partner for Comment Nicole a tout pété.
• La Rose des vents Scène nationale (Villeneuve d'Ascq)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScene nationale in Lille Métropole. Coproduction partner for Comment Nicole a tout pété.
• ZEF Scène nationale (Marseille)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScene nationale in Marseille. Coproduction partner for Comment Nicole a tout pété.
• CCAM Scène nationale (Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScene nationale in Nancy. Coproduction partner for Comment Nicole a tout pété.
• Théâtre-Sénart Scène nationalemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScene nationale in Seine-et-Marne. Coproduction partner for Kyoto Forever 2.
• La Ferme du buisson Scène nationale (Marne-la-Vallée)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScene nationale in Marne-la-Vallée. Coproduction partner for Kyoto Forever 2.
• Le Quai - Forum des Arts Vivants (Angers)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerForum for living arts in Angers. Coproduction partner for Sunamik Pigialik? and Kyoto Forever.
• La Friche - Amin Théâtre (Viry-Châtillon)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural venue in Viry-Châtillon. Coproduction partner for Sunamik Pigialik?.
• DRAC Île-de-France - Ministère de la CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cultural authority of the French Ministry of Culture. Provides institutional funding and support for the company. The company is conventionnée by the department of Seine-et-Marne, Region and DRAC Île-de-France.
• Département de Seine-et-MarnecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepartmental council providing institutional support. The company is conventionnée by the Department of Seine-et-Marne along with Region and DRAC Île-de-France.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rimini Protokoll: German documentary theater collective creating theatrical works that incorporate expert testimony, statistical data, and documentary research. Rimini Protokoll is the most internationally recognized practitioner of the documentary-theatrical conference format that Vertical Détour's conference-spectacle directly mirrors, making it the closest international peer.
• Théâtre du Soleil: Legendary French touring theater company led by Ariane Mnouchkine, producing large-scale collective theatrical works. As a French performing arts company touring major scènes nationales and cultural venues with artist-driven, non-commercial productions, it shares Vertical Détour's institutional touring model and French subsidized-theater ecosystem.
• Boris Charmatz / Musée de la danse: French choreographer-led contemporary performance project creating unconventional dance-theater works exploring ecological, political, and choreographic themes. Comparable to Vertical Détour in its research-based, theme-driven, French touring performance practice within the scènes nationales circuit.
• Compagnie DCA / Philippe Decouflé: French choreographer's company creating innovative dance-theater works with strong institutional backing and tours across French scènes nationales. Comparable in scale, institutional partnership model, and French touring-theater ecosystem.
• Compagnie Maguy Marin: French choreographer-led company creating distinctive dance-theater works touring French scènes nationales and international venues. Operates within the same French subsidized touring theater ecosystem as Vertical Détour, with comparable scale and institutional partnership model.

Emerging players

• Forced Entertainment: UK-based experimental theater company creating durational and documentary-influenced performance works touring international venues and festivals. Comparable to Vertical Détour in its small-team, artist-driven, research-based theater practice and European touring circuit.
• Elevator Repair Service: New York-based ensemble known for literary and documentary adaptations (e.g., The Adding Machine, Gatz). Comparable in its artist-driven, text-and-research-based theatrical productions and international touring circuit, though operating in a different theatrical ecosystem.
• Nature Theater of Oklahoma: New York-based experimental theater company creating documentary-inspired, research-driven performance works. Comparable to Vertical Détour in its use of documentary sources, oral narrative structures, and small-team touring model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Vertical-Détour
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-vertical-detour

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vertical Détour - Frédéric Ferrer