London, United Kingdom (Reuters): A humanoid robot made his debut in a British stage play "Spillikin", performing beside Judy Norman, who won the hearts of the spectators.
Featuring a "robothespian", a different cast member, the play brings love and technology together for a story about a robot maker who builds a robot to keep his wife company after he dies.
Cornwall-based Pipeline Theatre, which has worked with Robotics Company Engineered Arts for the project, is touring across England.
Jon Welch, writer and director said, "We have pre-programmed every single thing the robot says and every single thing the robot does, all the moves."
"So the robot will always say the same thing and move in the same way depending on what cue is being triggered at what particular time."
The robot is connected to the theater's control room, where a laptop transmits cues for its performance.
Welch further said, "(There is) a big pressure on the actor...to always have the right lines, always stand in the right place so that the robot is looking at the right direction at that particular moment."
Norman talks to the robot and even kisses it on stage. In response to her actions, the robot replies, displays facial expressions and moves its hands.
She said, "Working with a robot is something of course I have never done before so it's a completely different experience. When he looks at me, this going to sound weird, but he is very affectionate and I like him, I really like him."
"Spillikin" runs in London until March 19 and continues its tour until April.
