Art Starter: Travis Cotton

How was it revisiting Robots Vs Art? Just before we got into the rehearsal room the play was published, so it seemed that rewrites would not be an issue. But as soon as we hit the floor the actors had better ideas and my newly published play was quickly obsolete. This was disappointing for about a second. Then it became exciting. If I am involved in a new production of my work I don't think rewrites will ever stop. As a director, because I have the same cast as the last production remounting the play has been a breeze. We have an instant shorthand.

Did you see the Android-Human Theatre last year? No, but upon googling it, it seems like a pretty interesting idea. Actors, I think, have to constantly fight against putting their own judgments and idiosyncrasies into the characters they play. Robots would come at it from a completely neutral position. That, I think, is worth exploring. What they would lack, unless running on a really complex algorithm, would be the ability to improvise and respond in the moment to the more spontaneous human actor's offer.  

Do you really think robots will replace actors in the future? Remember when electronic music became popular in the early '90s? Being a middle class punk at the time (bad haircut, torn clothes but no piercings) I recall fearing that guitar-based music would no longer be viable. This was not the case. There will always be something attractive about the flaws of humanity and how it affects our art. In short, no.

What's a recent dream you have had? that my partner and I were babysitting the child of my ex-girlfriend. We were very relaxed about doing this and enjoyed it. But when my ex came to pick up the child she stubbed a cigarette out on my arm. I refused to pull my arm away and just stared at her whilst she twisted it into my flesh. But as Martin Amis's character Richard Tull writes in The Information:Dreams don't mean anything.

WHAT: Robot Vs Art 
WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday 17 April to Sunday 5 May, MICF, La Mama: Courthouse