As improvisers, we do not take ourselves too seriously, but we have nevertheless defined a set of values we believe in. We want Improbotics to take the best bits of theatrical spectacle, of scientific research, of actor training, of international collaboration as well as of improv creativity, in order to create a novel art form. And most importantly, we want our cast members and audiences to feel safe and supported.
Safety
We follow anti-abuse, harassment and discrimination codes of conduct used at the Rapid Fire Theatre and at Hoopla.
To make our space safe, we regularly check in within our troupe and respect everyone’s physical and emotional boundaries. Several members of our company serve on an internal human resources committee, and we consult with an external ombudsperson when necessary. We recommend the Safe Play initiative to safeguard the improv community.
Respect
We try to empathise with our audience: after all, we do our show with them. We aim at producing age-appropriate shows (our productions typically have a 12+ guidance rating). Our comedy strives at respecting the performers and guest performers’ boundaries and to stay away from sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia and any forms of punching down. When using technology, and through a combination of algorithmic filters and human curation, we select AI responses that will spark creativity rather than offend.
Diversity
We take a proactive stance on diversities among cast members and also aim to engage diverse audiences. We acknowledge we have room for improvement.
Authenticity
Over the past years, we have been continuously developing the AI software ourselves, debugging it for thousands of hours, and thus developed the tech for the show. The science behind our natural language processing algorithms and behavioural studies has been rigorously conducted, peer-reviewed and published. We have workshopped the theatrical use of AI for improv to hundreds of artists in Belgium, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the UK. The tech behind the show and the risk that the equipment breaks down 5 minutes before or into a show are real; the cold sweat and unfettered enthusiasm are genuine.
Avoiding hype
Being a diverse bunch of improv actors, with backgrounds that have spanned classical theatre, opera, academic research, stand-up comedy, civil service, theatre production, business, policy work and tech, we have different perspectives on technology. Initial co-founders Piotr and Kory, two researchers in AI who know how the sausages are made, are cautiously optimistic about the developments of artificial intelligence, and believe that in responsible hands and with appropriate control and oversight, AI can be an exciting tool to build things and to play with.
Impacts of Generative AI
We share the current concerns about the impact of Generative AI on artists. We are aiming at shifting the narrative about AI, away from the automation of mediocrity via derivative slop, away from the capitalist cannibalisation of creative economies, and away from a reductionist face-off between “luddites” and “philistines”. We are bringing AI tools back to their original glitch aesthetic, serving as challenge and inspiration to the human actors and integrating these tools within the artistic process, to synthesise the maker mindset and the improvisational “yes, and” ethos into a new hybrid art form that celebrates human creativity and gives artists agency over AI tools.
Collaboration
If you love theatre and/or robots, and if you want to collaborate with us on a show, an exhibit, a paper or a workshop, write to us. We welcome joint artistic projects that are done with the same collaborative mindset as international scientific research.
Improbotics 