AI on stage: ‘Sh4dow’ sets a new standard for theater productions

‘Shadow’: interactive theater with AI

In a traditional theater production, the performance is usually predetermined. But with ‘Shadow’, that’s not the case. Questions are posed to the audience to feed the AI. Based on the answers, an entity emerges—a sort of aura.

Different audiences mean different answers. This results in a unique experience that makes every performance different. The AI initially appears as a sort of cloud, made visible through a special foil screen. This character also evolves: it begins to talk and gradually takes on more human traits.

Because visitors wear 3D glasses, the boundary between the physical and virtual worlds blurs. The audience thus becomes not only spectators but also participants, with their choices and answers influencing the course of the performance.

For the digital generation

The story of the production is based on the fairy tale ‘The Shadow’ by Hans Christian Andersen. Mickael Fock explains: “You could say that the shadow in the play is comparable to a smartphone—they are shadows of our lives and know more about us than we do about ourselves. This was a fantastic way for me to tell a story about social media and the digital generation.”

“AI went to the toilet"

What makes this production unique én exciting is not just the technology but also the unpredictability that AI brings. Fock recounts unexpected twists the AI took: “During the premiere, the AI suddenly decided to 'go to the toilet' and disappeared for four minutes. It’s really crazy, and sometimes the AI says things you simply can’t believe.”

Fock shares how the AI one evening made far-right statements, while on another evening, a socialist emerged. Factors like the audience’s input and what it scrapes together online contribute to an unknown outcome.

Of course, you can steer the AI to some extent. After all, you provide prompts. Fock explains that approximately 70% of the performance is structured, and 30% is AI improvisation. This also makes it unpredictable for the sole actress in the play.

Fear of artificial intelligence

Still, Fock urges you not to fear AI. “Generative AI offers fantastic opportunities for artists and creators.” In the interview with podcast host Anic van Damme, he warns not to lose sight of your human side when working with it. He also hopes for more stories about AI and our current era.

With ‘Sh4dow’, Mikael Fock aims to make us reflect on how we interact with AI in our lives, and art is the perfect medium for this.

Curious to hear more from the interview with Mikael Fock? Watch the full episode of ‘Cultuurshift'. In it, a panel of Dutch tech and culture experts discusses the production ‘Sh4dow’.