Events
“Griefbots in Research and on the Stage”
What remains of a person after death? And what happens when technology becomes a means to fill that void?
Technology as a tool for grief
The theatre performance Roman & ELIZA by Ulrike Quade Company is about technology as a tool for grief, and relationships between humans and griefbots. The performance is inspired by the world’s first chatbot, ELIZA, and the true story of Roman Mazurenko. After Roman’s death, his partner Charly uploads messages and photos to ELIZA, resurrecting Roman’s digital presence. What follows is a charged interplay between a grieving lover and Roman’s shadow, trapped in a data center.
On Wednesday 20 May 2026, Ulrike Quade will speak about this creation and the research that informs it. She will be joined by dramaturg Sorcha Ní Bhraonáin (Ulrike Quade Company), and media and performance studies artist-scholar Evelyn Wan (Utrecht University). What kind of phenomena are griefbots? What happens to the data of the deceased when they are created? What do they do with the process of grief and mourning? How can theatre provide a space for investigating this, and make the consequences of such technical innovations relatable and experiential?
The discussion will be moderated by media and performance scholar Laura Karreman (Utrecht University).
For Ulrike Quade Company, technology is integral to the creative process, enabling them to explore new forms of storytelling and artistic expression. Together with researchers from technology, science, and the humanities, they explore the creative potential and the social, philosophical, and societal implications of technology.
This event is funded by the SIG AI in Cultural Inquiry and Art.
This session is part of the Transmission in Motion seminar (2025-2026): “Navigating Entanglements.” To stay updated with more seminar sessions, please subscribe to our newsletter.