Headlong has announced the full cast and creative team for its new production ROBOTA, set to premiere in Oxford this summer.
Written by Ella Road and directed by Roy Alexander Weise, the production runs from 3 to 18 July 2026 at the University of Oxford’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities.
ROBOTA marks Headlong’s first full scale production in Oxford since establishing a new base in the city in 2024.
The cast includes Ronkẹ Adékọluẹ́jọ́ as Helen, Umi Myers as Robot Helen, Tiffany Gray as Sulla, Ian Drysdale as Busman, Trevor Fox as Dom and Irfan Shamji as Ali.
Adapted from Karel Čapek’s groundbreaking 1920 play R.U.R., the production reimagines the story for the age of artificial intelligence.
Set in a near future where machines are indistinguishable from humans, the story follows a society built on obedient robots until an activist begins to challenge the system.
As the line between human and machine blurs, the piece explores questions of identity, freedom and what it means to be alive.
Writer Ella Road said: “It’s super exciting to see this brilliant team of actors and creatives come together and see the play expand in everyone’s hands, minds, and bodies. Roy and I have been circling around each other for a while and it’s great to be finally collaborating – and on such a fast paced and playful process such as this. ROBOTA is both about creative experimentation, and is a creative experiment in its own right; lately Loren, Roy and myself have been moonlighting as scientists, psychologists, philosophers… Now we have the most fantastic company to bring us down to earth and I can’t wait to see how it all lands.”
Director Roy Alexander Weise added: “I am beyond thrilled to work with this cast of titan storytellers; most of whom I’ve wanted to work with for the longest while. It’s also a real treat to add that Ronkẹ and I haven’t worked together for 10 years since our seminal collaboration on The Mountaintop (Young Vic). To be back in the room with one of my favourite collaborators and humans is a huge blessing. Excited for what we will all make together.”
The creative team includes set and costume designer Loren Elstein, composers and sound designers Dan Balfour and Max Perryment, lighting designer Sally Ferguson and movement director Sarita Piotrowski.
The production has been developed in collaboration with academics at the University of Oxford, reflecting ongoing debates about artificial intelligence and society.
Dr Rajendra Chitnis said: “Over a hundred years ago, Karel Čapek asked in R.U.R. which aspects of our humanity we should be happy to surrender to machines, giving the world the word “robot”. Revisiting his questions about what work, love, equality and human life mean when we share the planet with artificial intelligence that we invented but no longer control has never seemed more urgent.”
ROBOTA is a Headlong and Schwarzman Centre production and will be the first full scale show staged in the venue’s newly opened theatre.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
