Roman & ELIZA

Eternal life in the digital age

Roman & ELIZA: a performance that explores the boundary between technology and human emotions, challenging us to reflect on memory and loss. This moving performance takes you on a journey through the essence of connection and farewell.

Roman & ELIZA is a mosaic of stories and emotions, where the audience actively participates, allowing space for their own associations and feelings. The performance is inspired by ELIZA, the very first chatbot, and the poignant story of Roman Mazurenko. After his tragic death, his grieving friends decided to load their WhatsApp conversations into chatbot ELIZA, enabling Roman to digitally live on. While his family struggles with this digital shadow, his friends find comfort in their conversations with the virtual Roman.

In a time when technology is increasingly entwined with our daily lives, this performance explores the impact of digital memories on our relationships and our grieving process. What do these new forms of existence mean for us?

“Roman & Eliza is a poetic journey through the world of digital memories and human emotions,” says artistic director Ulrike Quade.