Pushing the Boundaries of Performance Art: Africa's First AI-Generated Opera: A Conversation with Louise Coetzer

Cape Town's art scene is about to witness something truly groundbreaking this month. "Autoplay," described as Africa's first AI-generated opera, will premiere at the Baxter Theatre, combining dance, music, and artificial intelligence in a way that challenges our understanding of performance art.

Louise Coetzer, the choreographer and director behind this innovative production. As the founding artistic director of Darkroom Contemporary Dance Theatre, Coetzer has spent 15 years pushing creative boundaries through interdisciplinary approaches and technological integration.

What makes "Autoplay" particularly fascinating is how AI is intertwined throughout the creative process. The production explores AI not just thematically but incorporates it directly into the development of the work. During their extensive research, Coetzer and her team used various AI systems to:

Design the structural framework of the performance

Generate inspiration for choreography and movement

Create elements of the sound score that change with each performance

This means no two performances will ever be identical - a truly unique aspect of the production. As Coetzer explains, "The work is never quite the same... there's always randomized elements that are being put out by the computer systems we use in the live experience."

The journey wasn't without its challenges. Initially, the AI outputs were "very basic, not really usable, not really interesting, very predictable." But as the team continued interacting with these systems, the results became more refined and aligned with their creative vision.

What's particularly interesting is how they're using these technologies in ways they weren't designed for. "We're using them for creating a theatrical performance. That's not what they meant to be doing," Coetzer notes. "As artists, we are then stepping into this role of using computers as our creative partners in the making process."

The dancers face their own unique challenges, having to respond in real-time to an ever-changing soundtrack that might suddenly shift from providing a strong beat to producing abstract, drone-like sounds without any clear rhythm.

Beyond the technical innovations, "Autoplay" explores profound questions about identity, autonomy, and our relationship with technology. Coetzer isn't trying to provide answers but rather open a conversation:

"We're in such an interesting moment in time... when AI popped up and became very prominent about eighteen months ago, suddenly everyone just accepted it... But we're not really questioning what it means, the future of where it's heading, the ethical considerations, the philosophical considerations."

The production examines how humanity remains present in this digital age and how we adapt to technological changes that are increasingly becoming part of our lives.

As Darkroom Contemporary celebrates its 15th anniversary, "Autoplay" represents the culmination of years of technological exploration and boundary-pushing. Coetzer describes it as their most ambitious project yet, combining "visual art, movement, sound, AI in a unique staging that offers something for everyone.

The production is particularly significant as it marks a milestone not just for Darkroom Contemporary but for performance art across Africa, demonstrating how artists on the continent are engaging with cutting-edge technologies.

"Autoplay" will run at the Baxter Theatre at the Flipside from March 26-29, with evening performances at 7:30 PM and a matinee on March 29 at 2:00 PM. Tickets range from R240-R270 and are available through Webtickets. The show runs approximately 75 minutes without an interval and has an age restriction of 13.

What makes this production particularly special is its immersive nature - audience members become part of the performance and their choices actually impact how the show ends.

Whether you're a dance enthusiast or simply curious about the intersection of art and technology, "Autoplay" promises to be a thought-provoking experience that challenges our understanding of creativity in the digital age.

Click on the link below to hear more about Autoplay.

Presenter: Jasnine Roberts

Producer: Lydia M