- A groundbreaking fusion of dance, opera, and artificial intelligence (AI) on show at the Baxter Theatre this March by Cape-based Darkroom Contemporary
Cape Town, 11 February 2025 – autoplay, Africa’s first AI-generated opera, is set to disrupt traditional performance art with a bold and immersive production that blends choreography, generative soundscapes, and machine learning when it takes over the Flipside at the Baxter Theatre 26 – 29 March 2025. This new work by acclaimed choreographer and director Louise Coetzer interrogates the intersection between identity, autonomy, and the digital landscapes that define modern existence.
Presented by the multi-award-winning Darkroom Contemporary, who celebrate their 15th anniversary this year, autoplay is an experiential convergence of dance theatre, live art, and polyrhythmic opera. It explores the intricate relationship between humanity and technology, challenging audiences to reconsider agency and free will in an era where digital algorithms shape daily life.
What sets autoplay apart is its fluidity: no two performances will be the same. Generative AI processes create unique musical compositions in real time, while audience interaction influences the evolving narrative, culminating in an experience that is both unpredictable and deeply personal. The result? A thrilling, surreal encounter between human expression and machine intelligence.
Featuring live, original music by Brydon Bolton (Benguela), vocalist Inge Beckmann (Lark, Beast), and Njabulo Phungula, the score combines organic and manufactured soundscapes, fusing digital and analogue processing, which invite the audience into this surreal game, while experimenting with the viewers’ perception.
Choreography, direction and set design are by Louise Coetzer. Performed by the accomplished cast of Louisa Talbot, Darion Adams, Lwazi Mzimase, and Tamsyn Pretorius, autoplay uses absurdity and satire to question the passive acceptance of our dystopian present. It juxtaposes traditional and contemporary symbols of learning, reimagining how we navigate a brave new world shaped by artificial intelligence.
“As AI becomes an integral part of our professional and personal lives, autoplay asks vital questions: Who is truly in control? How do we distinguish between influence and autonomy? The performance doesn’t just present these questions—it invites the audience to participate in finding the answers,” says Coetzer.
autoplay originally premiered in September 2024 at a uniquely transformed site in Cape Town, but this will be the first time it will be performed in a theatre setting. It promises to be a landmark production, pushing the boundaries of performance art while offering a profound meditation on the future of human-machine collaboration.
To augment the stage performances, a special seminar will be presented by Louise Coetzer, along with the cast and creative team. Here, viewers can gain further insights into the making of autoplay, and its use of AI systems as creative partners. The seminar takes place at the Little Theatre on UCT’s Hiddingh Campus, on 10 March at 10H00 – 12H00. Entry is free but booking is essential. Please contact ribyn@darkroomcontemporary.com to book.
Bold and innovative, Darkroom Contemporary Dance Theatre is a leader in the production and distribution of distinctive contemporary works. Equally adept at creating for the stage, site responsive performance and film, Darkroom Contemporary’s works by founders Louise Coetzer and Oscar O’Ryan have garnered global recognition. Recent awards include the Artist Award at POOL Movement Art Festival Berlin 2022, and the 2023 DCAS award for Most Innovative Contribution to Dance.
Louise and Oscar’s latest film, Blue Funk, is currently doing the rounds on the international film festival circuit and has also earned several prestigious awards. It also made history as the first South African entry selected for the 2024 Cinedans Festival in the Netherlands.
Awards for Blue Funk include:
The Best of Festival Award at Third Coast Dance Film Festival 2024 (USA); Best Choreography Awards at Utah Dance Film Festival (USA); Boston Dance Film Festival (USA), and the Exeter Dance International Film Festival (UK); Best Performance Award at Utah Dance Film Festival (USA); Best Dance Film at Berlin Shorts Festival (Germany); and the Audience Choice Award at Boston Dance Film Festival (USA).
Projects spearheaded by Darkroom Contemporary provide platforms to create opportunities for skills development and exchange among all artists involved. An emphasis on the use of new technology and digital media frames their artistic approach, with a focus on three pillars of activation – performance, film and development.
This production of autoplay is another prime example of their creativity and is made possible thanks to a grant from the National Lotteries Commission, the National Arts Council, the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme, and the The Western Cape Government Department of Cultural Affairs & Sport, in partnership with Dance For All SA.
autoplay Event Details:
- Venue: Baxter Theatre Flipside, Rondebosch
- Dates: 26 – 29 March 2025
- Times: 19H30 and one matinee at 14H00 on Saturday 29 March 2025
- Performance running time: 75 minutes (no interval)
- Age restriction: No under 13 years of age
- Ticket Costs: R240 – R270 per person per performance at Webtickets
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