Łukasz Twarkowski, Anka Herbut: Oracle

Theatre, Ruhrbühnen for Democracy

29.8.-2.9.2025

Kraftzentrale, Kraftzentrale, Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord

A theatrical multimedia exploration into Alan Turing, AI, and the dark soul of technology.

Alan Turing was a pioneer of modern computer technology: he cracked the Enigma code and helped the British government to shorten the Second World War. Nonetheless, the same government persecuted him for his sexual orientation. After Respublika in 2022, Łukasz Twarkowski returns to Ruhrtriennale with Oracle, a multimedia theatre piece by playwright Anka Herbut. Together, they explore Turing’s tragic life and legacy. Set in post-war Britain and a timeless digital realm, Oracle examines the politicization of technology. Through immersive soundscapes and cinematic projections, it blurs reality and illusion, questioning whether advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Visually stunning and provocative, Oracle reflects on Turing’s secrets, prophetic insights, and the AI-shaped future he helped create.

Oracle is part the democracy campaign of the RuhrBühnen network.

Produced by Dailes Theatre Latvia and Ruhrtriennale. Coproducers: New Error, Comedie de Geneve, Piccolo Teatro di Milano - Teatro d’Europa, De Singel Antwerp, Adam Mickiewicz Institute.

Press reviews

„Das ist großes Theater. Das ist der Grund, warum man zur Ruhrtriennale kommt [...]“ – Deutschlandfunk Kultur, 28. August 2025

„[...] Łukasz Twarkowski erzählt nicht linear Leben, Leistung und Leiden Turings nach. Ihn und sein exzellentes lettisches Ensemble interessieren die Auswirkungen einer Welt am Draht und der Dialog und Widerspruch von Mensch und Maschine.“ – nachtkritik, 29. August 2025

Theatre scene with live video projection: Actors in trench coats and uniforms move around a stage structure made of metal frames, while a large screen above shows close-ups. — Oracle, Regie: Łukasz Twarkowski, f.l.t.r. Artūrs Skrastiņš, Rytis Saladžius, Madara Viļčuka © Katrin Ribbe, Ruhrtriennale 2025

Two actors face each other on stage, holding hands, with a projection of their faces in the background. — Oracle, Regie: Łukasz Twarkowski, f.l.t.r. Mārtiņš Meiers, Ilze Ķuzule-Skrastiņa © Katrin Ribbe, Ruhrtriennale 2025

Two actors in motion on stage – one wearing a red sweater, the other in a flowing light blue costume with a crown. — Oracle, Regie: Łukasz Twarkowski, f.l.t.r. Vita Vārpiņa, Mārtiņš Meiers © Katrin Ribbe, Ruhrtriennale 2025

Stage scene: An actress stands with outstretched arms on a bed, another actress leans back on a chair; a teddy bear sits on the table. — Oracle, Regie: Łukasz Twarkowski, f.l.t.r. Ilze Ķuzule-Skrastiņa , Madara Viļčuka © Katrin Ribbe, Ruhrtriennale 2025

Stage scene with several actors in a glass-walled room; above them a large video projection showing a close-up of three characters. — Oracle, Regie: Łukasz Twarkowski, f.l.t.r. Mārtiņš Meiers, Ilze Ķuzule-Skrastiņa, Madara Viļčuka © Katrin Ribbe, Ruhrtriennale 2025

Actors in a stage structure of metal frames illuminated by red lights. — Oracle, Regie: Łukasz Twarkowski, f.l.t.r. Mārtiņš Meiers, Ilze Ķuzule-Skrastiņa © Katrin Ribbe, Ruhrtriennale 2025

Stage scene in intense red lighting with a futuristic room structure; above it a projection of distorted video images. — Oracle, Regie: Łukasz Twarkowski © Katrin Ribbe, Ruhrtriennale 2025

Festival Stories

Cast

Direction
- Łukasz Twarkowski
Text, Dramaturgy
- Anka Herbut
Set Design, Lightning Design Concept
- Fabien Lédé
Costumes
- Svenja Gassen
Video Design and Digital Media
- Jakub Lech
Composition
- Julek Ploski
Choreography and Artistic Collaboration
- Pawel Sakowicz
Light Design
- Eugenijus Sabaliauskas
Assistant Director
- Diāna Kaijaka
Assistant Playwright
- Loreta Kalniņa
Video Assistant
- Ričard Žigis
Acting
- Juris Bartkevičs,
- Kaspars Dumburs,
- Klāvs Kristaps Košins,
- Mārtiņš Meiers,
- Katarzyna Osipuk,
- Rytis Saladžius,
- Nelė Savičenko,
- Artūrs Skrastiņš,
- Ilze Ķuzule-Skrastiņa,
- Vita Vārpiņa,
- Madara Viļčuka,
- Xiaochen Wang
Production
- Vidas Bizunevičius (New Error),
- Liga Svempe (Dailes Theatre Latvia)
Technical Project Manager Dailes Theatre Latvia
- Mārtiņš Vigups
Production Manager Ruhrtriennale
- Charlotte Wulff,
- Laura Becker
Technical Project Manager Ruhrtriennale
- Darko Šošić
Technician
- Christian Benz,
- Anne Gollasch,
- Adam Petrenko
Dressing and Costume Team Ruhrtriennale
- Sabine Höhfeld,
- Marion Felix-Groll,
- Eva Gamble
Hair and Makeup Team Ruhrtriennale
- Pia Norberg,
- Manuela Heukamp,
- Melanie Schulte-Holtey,
- Renate Wellershausen