Gastrobotic

©NIDA 2024), photographer: Phil Erbacher

Gastrobotic is an original theatre piece by James Penny. It was conceived as a dramaturgical interpretation of his many hospital visits when he was young. Children with Down Syndrome sometimes require multiple surgeries for complications associated with heart problems, speech issues, and mobility. Having had to be hooked up to “machines that go ping” for much of his early life, James fantasised that maybe he would somehow end up as a machine himself—a robot. This performance piece brings those childhood fever dreams to life.

Gastobotic features AI innovated by the University of New South Wales Robotics Unit. It’s a performance that serves a healthy amount of slapstick humour, a Doctor with evil motives, and a heartfelt celebration of our artists' joys, challenges, resilience, creativity, and lived experiences.

Who knew that having regular medical interventions, being lactose intolerant and having explosive diarrhea would be so relatable, poignant and entertaining?