Future Stages

Future Stages: On the impact of technology on grieving

On 13 December, Ulrike Quade Company invites you to an inspiring evening at Frascati Amsterdam, where two rooms will be filled with innovative programmes exploring the future of technology and theatre.

Future Stages: The influence of technology on grieving

How does technology influence our grieving process and the way we cherish memories? At a time when digital memories are increasingly important, Ulrike Quade Company explores the impact of robots, AI, chatbots and holograms on our relationships and our coping with loss. This event is a preview of their upcoming production ‘Roman & ELIZA,’ which explores life after death in our current technological age. Experts from different disciplines will share their insights and invite the audience for an in-depth discussion.

Program:

• 19:30 – 20:30: Panel with 3 experts – Explore diverse perspectives on the role of technology in grieving.
• 20:30 – 21:00 at Frascati 3: Spot x Kafka – A theatrical exploration of the famous Boston Dynamics robot Spot.
• 21:00 – 21:45 Roundtable discussions with the audience – Share your thoughts and questions with the experts and other attendees.
• 21:45 – 22:00 Closing
• 22:00 to close in Café: Drinks – Talk over drinks.

Future Stages: About the program

Future Stages is a series of talk shows initiated by Ulrike Quade Company, focusing on the cross-relation between theatre and new technology. In each talkshow, experts present their work and findings and engage with the audience on the innovative collaboration between performing arts and technology. Each talkshow approaches the same question from a different angle each time: How can performing arts and technology work together in an innovative way?

Spot x Kafka: An exploration of the human-robot relationship

In addition to the talkshow, we welcome you to Frascati 3 for a research presentation of Spot x Kafka. This presentation is the result of a collaboration between Ulrike Quade Company and tech incubator Yes!Delft, focusing on the relationship between humans and robots.

We look at the Spot robot through the lens of visual theatre and puppetry and work together with writer Tine Tabak, scenographer Hendrik Walter, composer Bauke Moerman and engineers Maneesh Verma, Romir Kulshrestha and Didier van Citters. Together, we search for a contemporary representation of the role of this robot in our society. During this programme at Frascati 3, we will share a scene from the project and take you through an imaginative perspective on Spot, a contemporary version of metamorphosis.

Center Stage Robotics

Future Stages is part of Center Stage Robotics, a groundbreaking collaboration between the performing arts sector, the creative industry and academia. Led by Ulrike Quade Company and in collaboration with visual artist Bram Ellens, programmer Rick van Dugteren of Event Robotics and Prof Dr Maaike Bleeker of Utrecht University, we will explore the role of industrial robots and robotics in theatrical and performative settings.

From July 2023 to December 2024, we will delve into the world of industrial robots, aiming to inspire the performing arts with new ideas and forms of work. At the same time, we explore how knowledge from the performing arts, especially puppetry, can enrich robotics and help us imagine a future with robots.