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Robot Makes Stage Debut in Japanese Play

by Lee Bains on November 26, 2008 at 10:27 AM


wakamaru on stage


Continuing their march toward the obliteration of mankind, robots are now learning the art of theater, the BBC reports.

These robotic thespians will take the stage for the first time, at Japan's Osaka University, for the production of 'Hataraku Watashi {I, Worker).' Acting alongside humans, the robots have been programmed to converse and interact with the human actors on stage. Two robotic actors will play the parts of two robotic workers, one of whom strangely comes to dislike work.

The Wakamaru robots, developed for house-sitting and secretarial work by Mitsubishi, were outfitted with software specially designed by the University's theater department.

The play, set in the near future and dealing with questions of technology, humanity, labor and ethics, is currently 20 minutes long. Playwright Oriza Hirata, though, hopes that 'I, Worker' will be shown as a full-length production by 2010.

Although we haven't seen them in action, we are fairly certain that the robots' acting styles are very similar to those of Keanu Reeves. Just a good bit more expressive. [From: BBC]

Robot Makes Stage Debut


Tags: big in japan, BigInJapan, expire-images2009-11-26, robotics, top, weird

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