A paradigm-shifting investigation of AI and Humanity
Nathan Ellis’s Instructions is a groundbreaking theatrical experience that pushes the
boundaries of performance art while delving into the complex relationship between
artificial intelligence and human creativity. Produced by SUBJECT OBJECT, this innovative production challenges audiences to confront the ethical implications of AI in an increasingly automated world.
At the heart of Instructions lies a daring concept: each day, a different actor steps
onto the stage without any prior preparation. Guided solely by on-screen prompts,
the performer becomes a puppet to an unseen digital puppeteer. This unique
approach not only highlights the raw talent of the actors but also serves as a chilling
metaphor for the potential control AI could exert over human behaviour and decision-
making. As the actor follows each command, we see a stark representation of a
future where AI systems might dictate our actions, choices, and even our creative expressions.
On the day I attended, Nikhil Vyas took centre stage, delivering a performance that
was equally captivating and unsettling. Vyas’s ability to seamlessly transition
between emotions and keep a palpable sense of vulnerability, created an intimate
connection between him and the audience. His journey became our own, as we
collectively grappled with the implications of an AI-driven future.
David Doyle’s masterful lighting design amplifies the production’s unsettling
atmosphere. The stark contrast between blinding illumination and engulfing darkness
mirrors the dichotomy of AI’s nature—its potential to expose truths and shed light on
hidden aspects of our world, while simultaneously concealing its own potentially dark
and malicious intents. This visual metaphor serves as a powerful reminder that while
AI may offer unprecedented insights and capabilities, its true motivations and long-
term impacts stay shrouded in uncertainty. A particularly haunting sequence bathes
Vyas in crimson light as he rotates on an LED platform, evoking the sensation of being dissected and ensnared by an all-seeing, yet inscrutable, algorithmic presence.
Ellis’s script cleverly weaves in Shakespearean references from As You Like It,
notably the famous quote, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women
merely players,” which takes on new meaning in the context of AI-driven
performance. This juxtaposition of classical theatre with cutting-edge technology
underscores the play’s exploration of what it means to be human and individual in an increasingly digital age.
Instructions also forces us to confront uncomfortable questions about the future of
creative industries. As AI capabilities grow, will human artists become obsolete? Is
the pursuit of technological perfection worth the potential cost to human livelihoods
and artistic expression? The play offers no easy answers but compels us to engage with these pressing ethical dilemmas.
While the spectre of AI dominance looms large, Instructions is not merely a
cautionary tale. It is a call to action, urging us to critically examine our relationship
with technology and reassert our humanity in the face of automation. The
production’s recurring refrain, “Are we stuck in a loop?” echoes long after the final
blackout, challenging audiences to break free from the cycles of complacency that threaten to define our AI-assisted future.
Instructions is a must-see for anyone interested in the intersection of technology, art,
and human consciousness. It is a thought-provoking, sensory-rich experience that
will leave you questioning the nature of creativity, identity, and what it truly means to
be human in the 21st century.
