Anka Herbut

ORACLE

Is the ‘future’ an idea of ​​one man?
Was our present invented by a single person?

Following the phenomenal success of "ROTKHO" at the largest and most prestigious theatres and festivals across Europe Polish director Łukasz Twarkowski and his team return to Dailes Theatre. Director presents "ORACLE", the second part of his science trilogy investigating the entanglement of science and war. 

Continuing to explore a complete fusion of theatrical and cinematic expression, this is the most ambitious production at Dailes Theatre to date, delving into uncannily accurate prophecies of the future and a dark soul of technology that is already shaping our lives today. The production shines a light on the discoveries in natural and artificial intelligence by British mathematician and logician Alan Turing – the creator of the Turing Test – during World War II. 

The war has already begun and the first computer – built of humans and machines – has been created at Bletchley Park, the secret headquarters of the British intelligence service. Turing was a pioneer of modern computer technology. Together with his fellow codebreakers in Bletchley, he cracked the Enigma code and helped shorten the Second World War. Yet the same government that relied on his brilliance later persecuted him for his sexuality. He was a man capable of solving the greatest mysteries of the world, while living a life shrouded in impenetrable secrecy.

Shifting between post-war Britain and a timeless digital realm, “ORACLE” employs thermal and infrared cameras –  not neutral video tools, but first and foremost weapons of war. At the same time, through immersive soundscapes and cinematic projections, it dissolves the boundary between reality and illusion. Visually striking and conceptually provocative, the performance reflects on Turing’s secrets, his prophetic insights, and the artificial intelligence’ shaped future he helped to imagine.

The "ORACLE" was included in the programme of the prestigious Ruhrtriennale festival in 2025. The production is developed in collaboration with a number of international partners, including the Ruhrtriennale team, affirming the reputation of Dailes Theatre in Europe and the purposeful nature of its international collaborations, as it continues showcasing Latvia on the world stage.

The production is created in collaboration with several cross-border partners – the Ruhrtriennale Festival of Arts NewError, Comédie de Genève, Piccolo Teatro di Milano, De Singel Antwerp – and with the support of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute. The initial framework for the text was developed during the Complicité Mudlarks International Residency, supported by Complicité Theatre and the Polish Institute in London.

• Strobe lights used
• 12+ | Performance in Latvian, English, Lithuanian and Chinese, with Latvian and English surtitles | Increased sound level used during the performance