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ROBOTA
Artwork by studio DOUG

ROBOTA

A Headlong and Schwarzman Centre Production
8 Jul 2026 - 18 Jul 2026
8 Jul 2026
-
18 Jul 2026

A creation story for the end of time.

In 1920, playwright Karel Čapek imagined a world of AI and rebellion, inspiring and influencing a century of sci-fi cinema. 100 years later, Headlong reawakens his visionary play Rossum’s Universal Robots (R.U.R.) as ROBOTA – high-voltage theatre for the age of artificial intelligence.

In a not-too-distant future the Rossum Corporation has done the impossible: created machines indistinguishable from humans. Built to serve, programmed to obey and ready to be rolled out worldwide.

But when idealistic activist Helen gets involved, these perfect workers begin to dream of freedom and the system starts to glitch. As the line between human and machine blurs, how do we hold on to our humanity?

Blending origin story with sci-fi, myth with machine, this is a smart, timely and often funny look at what it means to truly be alive. Following Headlong's “fascinating” (Financial Times) reinvention of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, this is an intriguing new take on a Czech classic.

ROBOTA Digital Programme

 

About ROBOTA

Written by Ella Road (Black Mirror/Dr Who) this adaptation takes Capek’s prescient text and fuses it with cutting edge academic research and a wickedly dark sense of humour.

Directed by Roy Alexander Weise (The Hot Wing King at the National Theatre, Much Ado About Nothing at The RSC) and designed by Loren Elstein , ROBOTA offers a provocative glimpse into the future.

The show will be the first fullscale production in the Schwarzman Centre’s theatre with a bold new take on the play that gave us the word “robot.”

ROBOTA collides theatre, Sci-Fi, and philosophy in a thrilling exploration of power, progress and what really makes us human.

Accessibility

There is a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreted performance on Saturday 11 July, 2pm and an Audio Described and Captioned performance on Saturday 18 July, 2pm, preceded by a Touch Tour at 1pm.

You can find out more information on accessibility at the Schwarzman Centre, including details of how to apply for our access card to be able to view and book a complimentary companion ticket. 

If you have any questions or require further guidance, please contact tickets@schwarzmancentre.ox.ac.uk.

If you would like to attend the Touch Tour on Saturday 18 July, please register your interest by emailing tickets@schwarzmancentre.ox.ac.uk, who can also provide further information.

 

ROBOTA Panel discussions

Drawing out some key themes of the production, and its cultural context, these events offer a deeper dive into the development of the show and the stories it tells.

These events are free to all ROBOTA ticket holders, but should be booked in advance.

 

AI: New Narratives, New Futures
Friday 10 July, 5pm

Chaired by Kit Green, panelists include Stephen Bailey, Sarah Ellis, Chinonyerem Odimba and Dr Caroline Green.

Throughout history humanity has told stories… we imagine and tell each other stories to understand the universe, to build connections and community. We have told stories around campfires and in colosseums. This conversation aims to ask the question…what is the future of storytelling? And how will AI shape the way we create and tell stories in the future. Panellists to be announced.

 

Book free tickets

 

Lost in Translation: creating theatre for English speaking audiences in translation
Wednesday 15 July, 5pm

Chaired by Dr. Margherita Laera, panelists include Stephan Simek, William Gregory, Tzen Sam and Frank Peschier.

When R.U.R. was first staged in the 1920s, it gave the world a new word: robot. Karel Câpek's Sci-Fi groundbreaker might have established the word 'robot' in multiple languages, but its author wasn't necessarily happy with its interpretation. Câpek's robots were not mechanical automatons, and it filled him with 'outright horror' to be faced with such interpretations. Instead, he envisioned his robots as something far stranger, more mystical, and rather more metaphysical than a Roomba.

Such are the perils of translation, not just across language but across cultural and historical borders. This panel explores the creative possibilities and inevitable tensions of creating and presenting theatre in translation. What do we gain in terms of stories reaching new audiences, and how is that balanced with what we might lose in specificity and intention?

 

Book free tickets

 

 

Duration:
2 hours 20 mins (approx.) including interval

 

Age guidance:
Recommended 12+

 

Content warning:
This show contains strong language and scenes of a sexual nature

 

Access shows:
BSL interpreted Saturday 11 July 14:00
Audio Described Saturday 18 July 14:00
Captioned Saturday 18 July 14:00
Touch Tour Saturday 18 July 13:00 (Please email tickets@schwarzmancentre.ox.ac.uk to register your interest and for further information)

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Cast, Creative Team

Ronkẹ Adékọluẹ́jọ́

Actor, Helen

Ian Drysdale

Actor, Busman

Trevor Fox

Actor, Dom, Marius

Tiffany Gray

Actor, Sulla

Umi Myers

Actor, Robot Helen, Security

Irfan Shamji

Actor, Ali

Ella Road

Writer

Roy Alexander Weise MBE

Director

Loren Elstein

Set Designer, Costume Designer

Dan Balfour

Composer, Sound Designer

Max Perryment

Sound Designer, Co-Composer

Sally Ferguson

Lighting Designer

Sarita Piotrowski

Movement Director

Gurkiran Kaur

Voice & Dialect

Haruka Kuroda

Fight Director

Becky Paris CDG

Casting Director

Tramaine Trace

Associate Director

Sophea Liles-Bailey

Costume Supervisor

Anna Snow

Props Supervisor

Credits

by Ella Road, adapted from “Rossum’s Universal Robots” by Karel Čapek.

Dramaturg - Frank Peschier
Company Stage Manager - Joni Carter
Deputy Stage Manager - Robyn-Amber Manners
Assistant Stage Manager - Shuyin Wang

Read more about the ROBOTA Writer & Director

Artwork by studio DOUG.

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