The Royal Opera’s Associate Director Netia Jones curates a four-day festival exploring the shifting boundary between opera and technology. The focus for the first festival is the ever-growing world of artificial intelligence. What can AI offer creatives? And what can creatives offer the world in the age of AI?

Events for this inaugural festival include four EARLY SHIFT/LATE SHIFT sessions featuring performances and presentations from a diverse range of practitioners, the SHIFT EXCHANGE, a day of conversation with leading AI thinkers, and PLAY SHIFT, a relaxed day for all that encourages immersion and interaction. Alongside the four festival days, the Linbury Foyer will be open daily and free to the public and will feature exciting exhibitions and displays offering further interactive exploration.

Featured artists include legendary American experimental composer and improvisor George E. Lewis with soprano Juliet Fraser, Alexander Whitley Dance Company, vocal artist and AI innovator Harry Yeff (Reeps100) with soprano Patricia Auchterlonie, experimental composer Jennifer Walshe with vocal ensemble EXAUDI and AI sound artists Dadabots, composer Paola Prestini, AI sound artist and research scientist Yaboi Hanoi and transdisciplinary artist Stephanie Dinkins and many more.

Performers and programme subject to change.