Vocalize, featuring Sir Stephen Fry, will make its world premiere at the Hay Festival, headlining a vibrant summer programme presented by Sage & Jester. Running from May 22nd to June 1st, Vocalize is a provocative new interactive installation that invites audiences to confront one of the most urgent questions of our time: what happens when your voice is no longer your own?
Visitors will step into a soundproof booth and enter the fictional world of the Vocalize Talent Agency, where they take part in an interactive voiceover training session led by Sir Stephen Fry’s AI clone. Guided by his vocal double, participants will record their own professional voice reel—until the experience takes an unexpected turn.
Sir Stephen Fry comments, “Vocalize is a brilliant fusion of art and entertainment, revealing both the wonders and pitfalls of AI. As this technology shapes our future, it urges us to pause, reflect, and question: where are we heading and who gets to decide?”
Produced by Indigo Storm and conceived by award-winning artists Francesca Panetta, Shehani Fernando, and Halsey Burgund, Vocalize invites audiences to engage directly with AI-driven voice cloning. Through its interactive format, the installation aims to spark critical thinking about how AI could impact everything from entertainment to misinformation.
The creators of Vocalize comment, “We wanted audiences to feel what manipulation truly means. When the viewer becomes the protagonist, the boundary between truth and fabrication starts to dissolve—and that shift becomes deeply personal. As artists, we’re drawn to exploring AI not only to unlock its creative potential, but also to confront the risks and ethical dilemmas it presents.”
In addition to Vocalize, Sage & Jester will unveil a captivating prelude to their upcoming show with an immersive pop-up experience across London from May 15th to 25th. The Storehouse Truck will share the first tantalising glimpses of the production which debuts this June, journeying through London’s most vibrant corners including Southbank and Camden Market.
The Storehouse Truck will then find its home at SXSW London in Shoreditch for a week-long residency. Sage & Jester was proud to be announced last week as an official brand partner at SXSW’s inaugural European event, with a curated panel due to be announced soon.
Founder of Sage & Jester, Liana Patarkatsishvili, comments, “We’re thrilled to partner with London’s inaugural SXSW, a hub of creativity and innovation. As an impact-led arts organisation, Sage & Jester aims to uncover manipulation and misinformation. We’re not just storytellers; we’re catalysts for a more informed society. Our values align perfectly with SXSW, and we’re excited to reveal more about our debut production, Storehouse, and upcoming events.”
On April 30th, a fast-paced new virtual gameshow Cut the BS will be hosted by Capital FM presenter and online creator Niall Gray. In this lively TikTok series, special guests will be challenged to see if they can spot lies, fakes, or perhaps they are switched on to the world of misinformation. As online audiences call out media manipulation in real time, Sage & Jester aims to empower and educate viewers through this fun series.
As part of the wider programme, Critical Conversations, a trio of live talks in partnership with Intelligence Squared, will dig deeper into today’s most pressing misinformation themes. On May 13th, Tricks, Trolls, and LOLs: Comedy’s Crash Course in Spotting Lies sees BAFTA-nominated comedian Rachel Parris unpack how humour can dismantle falsehoods and expose the absurdity of disinformation. On May 19th, Truth Hurts: From Conflict to Connection with author and extremism expert Dr Julia Ebner will explore how polarised media is fuelling everyday division—and how to engage more constructively. Finally, on May 20th, Sage & Jester teams up with Intelligence Squared for How To Cure Your Algorithm, with Jamie Bartlett leading a vital discussion on digital manipulation and how to reclaim control of your online narrative.
Founded in 2024, Sage & Jester is an arts production company on a mission to entertain and empower through bold, immersive, socially urgent work. Their debut production, Storehouse, opens this June in a 9,000-square-metre underworld in London—an unmissable deep-dive into truth, power, and digital disinformation.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
