Robot-only futuristic production 'Uncanny Valley' to premiere in Shanghai
2025-03-14 to 2025-03-16
2025-03-14 to 2025-03-16With robots amazing the Spring Festival Gala stage on China Central Television with their stunning yangko dance and artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek setting the internet abuzz, the dawn of 2025 has already sparked a heated AI revolution, drawing unprecedented attention to the intertwined destinies of technology and humanity.
Now a revolutionary tech theater is landing on the Shanghai stage!
From March 14 to 16, the internationally acclaimed theater troupe Rimini Protokoll from Germany will present its groundbreaking work "Uncanny Valley" to audiences in Shanghai.
The promotion poster for "Uncanny Valley."
Unlike traditional performances, the play will feature no human actors on stage. Instead, a lifelike robot will take center stage, engaging the audience in a dialogue that explores themes of identity and artificial intelligence.
"Uncanny Valley" theater was inspired by the theory of the same name developed by Japanese robotics expert Masahiro Mori. It suggests that almost but not fully humanlike artificial characters will trigger a profound sense of unease. This hypothesis is now widely acknowledged both in popular media and scientific research.
Directed by Stefan Kaegi, the production features a robot modeled after writer Thomas Melle. In the performance, it will replace a human actor on stage, engaging directly in dialogue with the audience. This marks the first stage performance to feature only robots.
The play marks the first collaboration between director Stefan Kaegi and writer-playwright Thomas Melle, in which they created a robot resembling Melle.
It possesses a human-like form, texture, and hair; dressed in human clothing; seated on a human sofa. Every detail of the robot has been meticulously programmed so that it behaves as much like a human as possible until it reveals the "back of its head" with exposed mechanical parts. It will narrate two distinct stories: one about the writer Melle and the other about Alan Turing, hailed as "the father of artificial intelligence".
Each audience member will be equipped with a radio and headphones to interact directly with the robot. Mimicking the structure of the Turing test, the robot will pose a series of challenging questions and ultimately provoke the audience with the toughest one – "But where does your confidence come from when, upon the computer's request, you choose 'I am not a robot'?"
Every detail of the robot has been meticulously programmed so that it behaves as much like a human as possible, until it reveals the "back of its head" with exposed mechanical parts.
"Uncanny Valley" will invite the audience to relish every moment of the accelerated heartbeats, raised goosebumps, and chills down the spine, while contemplating the essence of their humanity. The performance, in the name of technology, challenges the age-old "liveness" of theater, creating a rare miraculous moment on stage – where the audience becomes the only irregular and unpredictable element in the performance. This "decentralized" stage will ultimately transform into a celebration of rediscovering humanity.
Rimini Protokoll is one of Europe's most renowned independent theater troupes from Germany and a pioneer of contemporary "Documentary Theatre". Its productions bring the everyday lives of ordinary people into the theater rather than employ professional actors, creating a highly interactive connection with the audience.
The works of Rimini Protokoll have been staged around the world. In 2018, the troupe's global series "Remote X" was presented with a Shanghai backdrop, which connected the "grand narratives" of the city with the "micro-existences" of individuals. This year, its masterpiece "Uncanny Valley" will have its Shanghai premiere, presenting a near-future theater form that combines technology and art, and staging the first performance without a "human" on stage.
"Uncanny Valley" is not just a play, it is an experiment that invites viewers to question what it means to be human in an increasingly mechanized world.
"Uncanny Valley" is not just a play, it is an experiment that invites viewers to question what it means to be human in an increasingly mechanized world. The production will be staged at the YOUNG Theatre's Green Box, with performances in German, English, and Chinese.
Tickets are now available on the WeChat mini program "YOUNG剧场微票务" or through multiple ticketing platforms such as Damai, Maoyan, Taopiaopiao and Piaoxingqiu.
Tech-savvy audience and theater enthusiasts, don't miss the chance to explore this futuristic world and conduct amazing conversations about technology and humanity!
Performance info
Date: March 14, 7:30pm; March 15/16, 2pm/4:30pm/7:30pm
Tickets: 200 yuan
Venue: Theater YOUNG Greenbox｜YOUNG剧场·绿匣子
Address: 1155 Kangjiang Rd 控江路1155号