1001 Nights is a centuries-old collection of stories framed by the tale of Scheherazade, who tells a new story each night to postpone her execution. These stories range from myths and adventures to moral tales, magic, and fantastical encounters.
1001 Nights with Robots reimagines this narrative tradition for a contemporary performance context where robots become characters, collaborators, instruments, or interactive elements. This new theatre project adapts the spirit of 1001 Nights into a hybrid human–robot performance environment.
Project Leads:
- Hooman Samani (University of the Arts London)
- Saina Akhond (University of the Arts London)
- George Rodosthenous (University of Leeds)
Project Schedule:
January 2026: A three-day research-led pre-production workshop (21–23 Jan 2026) with University of the Arts London Creative Robotics students, focused on story creation, devising, and technical experimentation.
Pre-production workshop video:
Jan – July 2026: Production and rehearsals
1-3 July 2026: Performance at the ICSR conference:
Following the ICSR performance, the show is planned to be presented at additional venues and events.
Hooman Samani 