Everything is Connected: Interactive, Theatrical Experiment

Our world is dynamic and the challenges are so complex that hardly anyone fully understands them, let alone is able to find a simple solution. Even so, we like to recount potential solutions and ideas as traditional hero stories. However, in the face of current challenges, the simple narrative form is stretched to the limit. New narratives and forms of cooperation are required that convey complex topics in a more understandable and tangible manner in order to master them.

On this basis, onto[story] developed a live laboratory and an interactive experiment that uses theatrical means to enable communication, gather perspectives and open up new courses of action. Protagonists interacted with each other and with the public in eleven scenes. The virtual narrator Yuuki, alongside an AI-controlled dog, VR actors, a “collaborative lady” and a traditional heroic character were all part of the staging. During the dynamic rehearsals, the story was developed further, fine-tuned and finally presented in two public events.

The virtual narrator, controlled live through AI motion tracking, took on the role of dramaturgic director as “Master of Ceremony”. VR actors formed a digital choir, with their movements projected in real time, extending the stage action. They occasionally stepped out of their roles and added to the performance. The aim was a collaborative dynamic that also incorporated the public.

“Everything is connected” resulted in the prototype of a format that makes it possible to experience democratic discussions as an interactive event and sustainable theatre piece. New ways of recounting and a many-voiced narrative were explored together with the public, VR and AI. Three teams continue to work on the topics of sustainability, democracy and format development – the agency is supervising them and providing them with long-term support in this.