Photo: Anna van Kooij
Future Stages #8
Performance information
13 December 2024
Frascati Theatre
On Friday evening 13 December, Ulrike Quade Company curates a collective thought experiment on the latest technological developments. At Frascati, we will fill two rooms with an innovative program that breaks open our perspective on technology, identity, mourning and loss.
The evening revolves around the key question: how do contemporary technologies influence our grieving process and the way we cherish memories?
With well-known scientists, artists, students and lovers of technology and art, we will collectively address the ethical, technical, moral and social effects of the impact of robots, AI, chatbots and holograms. How will this affect our relationships and our coping with loss?
On the impact of technology on grieving
This event kicks off the upcoming performance ‘Roman and ELIZA’ by Ulrike Quade, which explores the concept of the ‘Digital Afterlife’ current technological era. Experts from different disciplines will share their insights and take us through their perspectives on these topics.
Program
About Future Stages
Future Stages is a series of talk shows initiated by Ulrike Quade Company, focusing on the cross-fertilisation between theatre and new technology. In each talk show, experts present their work and findings, and engage with the audience on the innovative collaboration between performing arts and technology. Each talk show approaches the same question from a different angle each time: How can the performing arts and technology work together in an innovative way?
Program
- 19:30 – 20:30: Panel discussion with 3 experts – Explore various perspectives on the role of technology in grieving.
- 20:30 – 21:00 in Frascati 3: SPOT x KAFKA – A theatrical exploration of the famous Boston Dynamics robot Spot.
- 21:00 – 21:45: Roundtable discussions with the audience – Share your thoughts and questions with the experts and other attendees.
- 21:45 – 22:00: Closure
- 22:00 to close in Café: Drinks – Talk over drinks.
SPOT x KAFKA
SPOT x KAFKA: An exploration of the human-robot relationship
In addition to the talk show, we welcome you to Frascati 3 for a research presentation by SPOT x KAFKA. This presentation is the result of a collaboration between Ulrike Quade Company and tech incubator Yes!Delft, focusing on the relationship between humans and robots.
We look at the Spot robot through the lens of visual theatre and puppetry and work together with writer Tine Tabak, scenographer Hendrik Walter, composer Bauke Moerman and engineers Maneesh Verma, Romir Kulshrestha and Didier van Citters. Together, we search for a contemporary representation of the role of this robot in our society. During this program at Frascati 3, we share a scene from the project and take you through an imaginative perspective on Spot, a contemporary version of the text The Metamorphosis.
Speakers
dr. Esther Hammelburg
Roshan Nejal
Wouter van der Toorn
Esther Hammelburg is an expert on hybrid events and AI in bereavement. On 13 December, she will discuss the role of AI in the continued existence of loved ones with two guest speakers.
Roshan Nejal, known for Deepfake Therapy, explores the ethical and technical possibilities of AI. He discusses his award-winning documentary and the use of deepfakes in grief counselling.
Wouter van der Toorn is co-founder of Bright Elephant, a platform for mourning and remembering. He developed a grief chatbot and wrote the book ‘Comfort Elephant – Stories that embrace you as you grieve’.
Host: Ro Rox Roxy Roxana Verwey
Musical performance by Tim Hammer
Live Column by Laura van Dolron
Ro Rox Roxy Roxana Verwey is the evening’s host, a black Queer maker and native of Rotterdam. They passionately brings connection and motivation through theatre and dance, at DOX and DEGASTEN, among others.
Tim Hammer is a Dutch-French theatre maker, composer and musician. He combines live music with visual theatre, inspired by rituals, nature and science. He has worked internationally from Brussels to Japan.
Laura van Dolron is a theatre-maker and stand-up philosopher known as the queen of vulnerability. She uses the stage to be sincere, confronting and comforting, moving with her audience from the head to the heart.
Speakers
dr. Esther Hammelburg
Esther Hammelburg is an expert on hybrid events and AI in bereavement. On 13 December, she will discuss the role of AI in the continued existence of loved ones with two guest speakers.
Roshan Nejal
Roshan Nejal, known for Deepfake Therapy, explores the ethical and technical possibilities of AI. He discusses his award-winning documentary and the use of deepfakes in grief counselling.
Wouter van der Toorn
Wouter van der Toorn is co-founder of Bright Elephant, a platform for mourning and remembering. He developed a grief chatbot and wrote the book ‘Comfort Elephant – Stories that embrace you as you grieve’.
Host: Ro Rox Roxy Roxana Verwey
Ro Rox Roxy Roxana Verwey is the evening’s host, a black Queer maker and native of Rotterdam. They passionately brings connection and motivation through theatre and dance, at DOX and DEGASTEN, among others.
Musical performance by Tim Hammer
Tim Hammer is a Dutch-French theatre maker, composer and musician. He combines live music with visual theatre, inspired by rituals, nature and science. He has worked internationally from Brussels to Japan.
Live Column by Laura van Dolron
Laura van Dolron is a theatre-maker and stand-up philosopher known as the queen of vulnerability. She uses the stage to be sincere, confronting and comforting, moving with her audience from the head to the heart.
Made possible thanks to
Photo: Daan Colijn
‘By bringing together science, technology and art, we are creating a powerful space for innovation – one that challenges societal norms and opens new perspectives on the issues that define our world today.’
– Ulrike Quade
