Jupiter's Ghost post-show Q&A at the Cockpit Theatre

Jupiter’s Ghost post-show Q&A at the Cockpit Theatre

Two of the most urgent issues facing the world today – climate change and the dizzying acceleration of Artificial Intelligence – collide in Jupiter’s Ghost, Tani Gill’s dystopian drama with dance, which premiered at London’s Cockpit Theatre.

Following the opening night performance of Jupiter’s Ghost, I chaired a post-show Q&A with Tani Gill – the former dancer who has written, directed (her UK debut) and choreographed the piece – and her associate director Rachel Soland to learn how this lockdown lightbulb moment, with its myriad creative influences, came to the stage… as well as the screen.

The action is set one hundred years in the future, by which time the earth has become uninhabitable and AI has led to a realm of intergalactic, cybernetic organisms.

Scientist Dr Elias Crete is desperately trying to save his son Jove, a feat he can only achieve by recreating humankind as it once was. Do any ghosts of humanity still exist?

Before the discussion, I asked the audience how worried they were about the climate crisis and/or existential AI threats. Many hands shot up. Watching Jupiter’s Ghost, in addition to man’s knack for self-sabotage, I was struck by two things: an overwhelming sense of loneliness and surveillance.

We talked about all of these fears as well as hopes for the future. The most fundamental hope? Our capacity to love.

Follow Tani Gill Dance Productions for information on future tour dates for Jupiter’s Ghost.

Q&A video

Care of Milan Medvec.

Q&A photos

With thanks to Raymond Whitaker.

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