Stage director Silviu Purcarete believes that the theatre should keep its 'absolutely primitive, expressive' character, even if technology and artificial intelligence will continue to be used, stating that a theatre without actors 'would no longer make sense.'.

At a special conference on Monday at the Sibiu International Theatre Festival (FITS), moderated by Octavian Saiu, Purcarete said that he would like a theatre that is as less dependent on technology as possible.

'Of course I would like to, if I could, but I cannot, unfortunately, not move towards an absolutely non-technological theatre. Let's try to do everything we can like 2000 years ago. I would like to be able to do it, but I don't know how to do it,' said Purcarete.

Asked if he uses artificial intelligence, he said that he has not tried it so far, explaining that he is not good at it, but does not rule out the use of AI when it can bring good results.

'I haven't tried [artificial intelligence] because I'm not good at it. Of course, if someone manages to use this tool and get good results, why not? No doubt, but surely during this time something even more great is being invented. You have the feeling that you are at the top of a trend, in fact they are the crumbs. So, I don't realise what can be done [with AI in theatre].'

In his opinion, artificial intelligence can be used more easily in cinema, but it cannot replace actors on theatre stages.

'In a film it's clear. You can see it clearly. I don't know how good it will be when the actors disappear completely, but it's clear that a film can be made. Theatre without actors... holograms somehow maybe, but what would be the meaning? The story would no longer make sense. So that's why I think, however, that if theatre is to survive, to survive through this absolutely primitive character, of expression.'

The director compared the technological evolution with the use of the first tools, the hammer, appreciating that any invention can be used for both good and less good purposes.

'The first hammer was more useful for breaking a head than for hammering a nail. So, it's normal, the same thing happens with all things, all technological inventions, if we can use them, very well.'

The series of special conferences at FITS continues on Tuesday in the Hall of Mirrors, at the headquarters of the Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania, with a conversation between Wim Vandekeybus and Octavian Saiu. Ionuț Sociu discusses with poet Miguel Gane.

Admission to the conferences is free.

'From year to year we try to develop this section of conferences because the big names that come to Sibiu deserve to be discovered by the public and other than through the shows they play or stage. It is a unique opportunity to see a piece of the soul of each artist who honours us with his or her presence,' according to FITS Chairman Constantin Chiriac.

FITS brings together throughout June 29, over 5,000 artists from 83 countries offering 848 events, eight more than in the previous edition, according to Chiriac.

The AGERPRES National News Agency is a media partner of FITS. AGERPRES (RO - editing by: Isabela Paulescu; EN - writing by: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu)