We’re delighted to share highlights from the recent International Conference on Social Robotics (ICSR 2025), where our paper “Theatre-in-the-Loop: A Rehearsal-Based Collaborative Workflow for Expressive Robotic Behaviours” was presented in the special session on Robotics and Art.

This work explores how theatre rehearsal methods, dramaturgy, and puppetry can guide the creation of robotic behaviours that feel expressive, intentional, and socially engaging. By working collaboratively with a director, puppeteer, roboticists, and designers, we developed a rehearsal-driven process where improvised gestures are shaped and refined through performance practice. This approach shows how theatre techniques can help robots convey emotional nuance and dramatic presence, extending beyond purely functional movement.

Presenting this research in Naples was an inspiring opportunity to connect with an international community of scholars and practitioners interested in bridging robotics and the arts. Co-presenting alongside Pavlos Panagiotidis underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, showing how performance practice and technical design can enrich one another.

Looking ahead, this work will continue to evolve through live performance settings, exploring how expressive robotic behaviours can engage audiences in new ways and expand the creative dialogue between humans and machines.

Written by Victor Ngo, PhD student