still loading

Algorithms organise our world – does the heart contradict this?

Emotions are bugs, vulnerability a weakness in the system, love merely a disruptive glitch in the programme. In a world permeated by technology, our bodies have become malleable and optimisable. Everything is loading, nothing ever ends.

On stage, a human being is dismantled, repaired and rewired. They are in a state of constant correction. But there is also a deep pain within the body, resisting every update. As digital avatars gradually take control and systems write reality, they promise perfection. Yet after every improvement, the heart makes itself heard. The last fragment of humanity. It grows louder. Until even that is replaced.

‘still loading’ by Maria Milisavljević portrays a character who tries to keep up with this world – and is broken by it. The performance explores the tension between technological perfection and the resistance of life. It is a science fiction spectacle and, at the same time, an emotional experience: a high-tech solo performance oscillating between anger, bitter humour and great tenderness towards one’s own existence, as a quiet dissociation arises between human and machine. But then it happens: the system crash.

In ‘still loading’, the question is not how we want to shape the future, but what it does to us. What remains of humanity when everything becomes replaceable? How do augmented bodies, brain interfaces and bionic implants affect our lives? And what happens if we simply stand still?

A production by Theater Winkelwiese in collaboration with the festival AFTER THE ALGORITHM (ATA)

English Version:

Algorithms organise our world – does the heart disagree?

Emotions, vulnerability, love are reclassified as program malfunctions. In a world permeated by technology, our bodies have become malleable and optimisable. Everything is loading, there is no end to the upgrades in sight.

On stage, a human being is dismantled, fixed and rewired. They are in a constant state of repair. But there is a deep pain, too, that resists every update. Digital avatars are taking over, reality is reconstituted by systems that promise perfection. Yet, after every improvement, the heart sends a signal. The last fragment of humanity. It grows louder. Until it, too, is replaced.

‘still loading’ by Maria Milisavljević portrays a character who tries to keep up with this world — and breaks down in the process. It explores the tension between technological perfection and life’s resistance. It is both science fiction and an emotional experience: a high-tech solo performance oscillating between anger, dark humour, and great tenderness towards one’s own existence, triggered by small disconnections in the human-machine relationship. System failure is imminent.

«still loading» does not consider which future we want to create, but what this future does to us. What remains of humanity when everything becomes replaceable? How do augmented bodies, brain interfaces, and bionic implants affect our lives? And what happens if we just decide to skip this update?