סמינר שמיעה לתלמידי תואר שני ושלישי
To Bot or Not to Bot: Integrating a Social Robot into the Actor’s Rehearsal Process
Lior Weiner, M.Sc. student at School of Industrial & Intelligent Systems Engineering
Advisor: Prof. Goren Gordon
Abstract:
In theatrical rehearsals, actors are often encouraged to explore their characters through a range of interpretive methods before shaping a final performance. This study examines how a humanoid robot might be integrated into this creative process as a rehearsal partner. A scene was developed in which a human actress performs alongside a robot programmed with a fixed script, gestures, and timing. Different uses of the robot were explored, as well as the actress’s reception of this unconventional partner. To assess the potential of this tool, two iterations of the scene—before and after the robot was introduced—were presented to audiences, who were then asked to reflect on the actress’s performance. This experiment seeks to contribute to the conversation around robotic agents in artistic settings, particularly as collaborators in actor training and character development.
Bio:
Lior Weiner is an M.Sc. student in the Department of Industrial Engineering at Tel Aviv University, conducting her research under the supervision of Prof. Goren Gordon as part of the TAU Innovation Labs. Her interdisciplinary work, in collaboration with Prof. Sharon Aronson-Lehavi from the Department of Theatre Arts, explores the integration of social robots into the creative process of character development for actors. Drawing on her training at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, Lior investigates how different modes of interaction with robotic partners influence actor performance and satisfaction, aiming to uncover new insights at the intersection of technology and the performing arts
