Africa’s first AI-generated opera, autoplay is here and will be performed at the Baxter Theatre from 26 to 29 March 2025. According to a media statement, the work is set to disrupt traditional performance art with a bold and immersive production.
“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,” reads the statement.
Africa’s first AI-generated opera, autoplay
It further states that the production blends choreography, generative soundscapes and machine learning. The new work is the brainchild of acclaimed choreographer and director Louise Coetzer. He interrogates the intersection between identity, autonomy, and the digital landscapes that define modern existence.
“What sets autoplay apart is its fluidity: no two performances will be the same.”
The AI opera is presented by the multi-award-winning Darkroom Contemporary. It is an experiential convergence of dance theatre, live art, and polyrhythmic opera.
Acclaimed choreographer and director Louise Coetzer
The media statement further points to it exploring the intricate relationship between humanity and technology, where audiences are challenged to reconsider agency and free will in an era where digital algorithms shape daily life.
Original music
The show will see live, original music be performed by Brydon Bolton (Benguela), vocalist Inge Beckmann (Lark, Beast), and Njabulo Phungula.
“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.
It’s said that 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 the baby of Louise Coetzer. In the cast are Louisa Talbot, Darion Adams, Lwazi Mzimase, and Tamsyn Pretorius.
Absurdity and satire
Autoplay uses absurdity and satire to question the passive acceptance of our dystopian present. At the same time, it juxtaposes traditional and contemporary symbols of learning, reimagining how we navigate a brave new world shaped by artificial intelligence.
Here are the event Details of autoplay:
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
