In an Australian-first a robot will attempt a trapeze act and other performance tricks with a human circus performer and an indie orchestra at the free musical extravaganza to close the Robotronica festival at QUT's Gardens Point campus on Sunday August 23.
The event, which starts at 6pm on the East Lawn, is open to the public and will feature more than 50 custom-built QUT robots dancing, jumping, rolling, swinging, clapping, lighting up and transforming to the music of Brisbane's most internationally travelled innovative orchestra DeepBlue.
Comedian and circus star Marianna Joslin takes to the trapeze in partnership with one of the robots.
The 45-minute performance is co-directed by QUT's Professors Andy Arthurs and Jonathan Roberts along with QUT Creative Industries Lecturer Jared Donovan. The robots have been created in a ground-breaking art and sciences collaboration between QUT's Faculties of Science & Engineering and Creative Industries.
Professor Arthurs said five different composers from QUT and DeepBlue have created the original music for the Robotronica finale, some with the aid of public input. The finale also includes a motion-tracking animation component created by QUT staff and students.
"The audience can expect an exciting insight into the future of live entertainment - robots at the cutting edge of art and science," said Professor Arthurs who is also co-director of DeepBlue.
"It's very fitting because the first incidence of the word robot being used in the English language was in the science fiction play R.U.R. written by Czech writer Karel Čapek which premiered in 1921.
"This performance is a fantasy that tells the story of the evolution of robots in a parody on human evolution. It begins with the most basic of robots and moves towards a future in which robots are more intelligent than humans.
"Choreographed live entertainment represents a particularly chaotic environment for robots to work in and this is a unique collaboration.
"The show features interactive designers, animators, roboticists, digital puppeteers, engineers, mathematicians, fashion designers, stage managers, AV, lighting and sound designers, recording engineers, musicians, dancers and a circus performer all working and playing together."
DeepBlue describes itself as 'the orchestra unleashed' and is comprised of strings, electronics and physical theatre and movement amplified and magnified by video and lighting and digital interactivity.
Formally trained, the musicians of DeepBlue - most of whom are QUT graduates or current students - offer a unique take on the orchestra of the 21st Century and have performed all over the world.
For Brisbane-based Marianna Joslin, the event is her first experience of working both with DeepBlue and robots. As well as the trapeze she will perform aerial silk work during the finale.
"This has been a really insightful experience for me. I have never worked with robots before but it is surprising how fast you fall in love with them," Ms Joslin said.
"The performance is a first for the circus industry. Puppets have been used in shows before but I am not aware of robots being involved and I am very excited to be part of it."
Robotronica takes place at QUT's Gardens Point campus 10am-7pm August 23. For more information about the Robotronica program visit www.robtronica.qut.edu.au. The Robotronica finale begins at 6pm.
Media contact:
Amanda Weaver, QUT Media, 07 3138 9449, amanda.weaver@qut.edu.au
After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901, media@qut.edu.au
