[TiM Recap] “Griefbots in Research and on the Stage”
by Tom Watkins This seminar “Griefbots in Research and on Stage” explored the relationship between grief, digital technologies, and performance through the theatre production Roman & ELIZA by Ulrike Quade Company. The session consisted of three presentations, followed by a participatory artistic planning exercise and a concluding discussion. Sorcha Ní Bhraonáin opened by situating griefbots
“From As If to What If to Activate Hope in and for the Otherwise-Possible” — Ani Encheva
From the as if of the staged world toward the posing of what if questions about that world and other possible worlds – this was the journey that the audience was taken on during the Transmission in Motion seminar “From As If to What If: Simulation and Speculation in Contemporary Dramaturgy” led by Dr. Liesbeth
“Rehearsal for the Future” – Thorn Austin
Theatre and performance have always been a gathering space throughout many different cultures and times. This is because historically, theatre has worked as a force that connects people: whether for sharing knowledge between community members, rehearsing future life events or introducing others to a new idea. In this view, performances can be understood not just as
“Phobiarama and the Discomfort of Real Fear” — Margot Van den Eeckhout
In line with the examples cited by Liesbeth Groot Nibbelink and Sigrid Merx during the discussion of their new book, “From As If to What If: Simulation and Speculation in Contemporary Dramaturgy”, I was reminded of Phobiarama by Dries Verhoeven. This performance does not simply present itself as something other than theatre. The performative installation
[TiM Recap] “From As If to What If: Simulation and Speculation in Contemporary Dramaturgy” – Liesbeth Groot Nibbelink (Utrecht University) and Sigrid Merx (Utrecht University)
by Jilke van der Kolk Structure and Format of the Seminar This seminar consisted primarily of a lecture-style presentation by Liesbeth Groot Nibbelink and Sigrid Merx, followed by an extended question-and-answer session with participants. The presentation offered a preview of their forthcoming book Simulation, Speculation and Futurity in Contemporary Dramaturgy: From ‘As If’ to ‘What
Meet the Makers: Samah Hijawi
In this Meet the Makers conversation, we will engage in conversation with multi-media artist, astrologer and dramaturg Samah Hijawi. Hijawi has been involved as a dramaturg in the creation process of Khadija El Kharraz Alami’s SHRINE, an immersive performance about grief, rage, and radical resistance, presented at Spring Festival 2026. We will talk about the
A Neurodiverse Fabulation: Techniques for Neurodiverse Futurities
Guided by the question “What can neurodiversity do?”, the collective shy*play (Aion Arribas and antje nestel) will story their art and pedagogical practice of Doing Neurodiversity. Aion and antje will tell one of the many stories that make up the ever-evolving world of shy*play, foregrounding its urgency, emergence, desires, and techniques of improvisation. These techniques
Against or With Power? Humour, Truth, and Subversion in Contemporary Stand-Up Comedy — Agata Kok
“If particular comedians are recognized as truth-tellers, does that imply that comedic speech may also lack truth?” (Zijp 2026). This central question, posed by Dr Dick Zijp in the seminar “Navigating Entanglements in Stand-Up Comedy: Humour, Truth-telling, and Situated Knowledges,” identifies a key tension shaping contemporary stand-up comedy: the collision of different “truth-regimes.” Drawing on
What “Truth” is told: Satirical Late-night Talk Shows as an Example — Jenny Chan
In his seminar “Humour, Truth-telling, and Situated Knowledges”, Dick Zijp reflected on the truth-telling role of comedians. Zijp first introduced the Foucauldian concept parrhesia, with which comedy practice is associated, meaning “fearless and courageous speech” (Zijp 2026). When applied to contemporary stand-up comedy, it suggests that comedians are parrhesiastes who speak truths via their “liberal
Meet the Makers: Eloise Pasmore O’Pray
In this Meet the Makers event, Eloise Pasmore O’Pray will present the story of how a unique research collection formed and travelled from Britain to the Netherlands. We will learn about the obstacles that arise when trying to catalogue and make accessible a research collection and AI’s role in finding solutions. Physical objects, specifically those