ACT VI

Can AI truly replace human roles in today’s theatre stage? If so, in what form? If not, why—and where do these limitations arise? We, the members of Team Act VI, are exploring these questions by positioning AI as an invisible collaborator in improvisational theatre.

At its core, we seek to define the variable in the equation: AI + Theatre = x. Does x hold artistic value? To investigate, we prototype and test narrative interactions with multiple AI models, experimenting with language, visuals, and sound as core components of the theatrical experience. More importantly, we examine how AI systems can subtly support live improvisation thereby shaping narrative arcs, suggesting dramatic beats, and responding to performers in real time.

Rather than committing to a fixed outcome, we explore what forms of collaboration may emerge and what value they might hold for audiences and practitioners. Leaning into the absurdity of the premise, our work may result in a performance, a toolkit, or a research framework outlining what AI can and cannot contribute to contemporary theatre.