Previews: COUNTERPOINT OF CHAOS at His Majesty’s Theatre
AI Theme Is at the Center of Maria Caruso's New Work Premiering May 31
Humanity's evolving relationship with artificial intelligence in our lives and the growing fears surrounding it are the themes of dancer, choreographer, and actress Maria Caruso's latest evening-length solo work, Counterpoint of Chaos.
Following the London successes of the Pittsburgh native's one-woman productions Metamorphosis in 2023 and Incarnation in 2024, which were inspired by events in her life, Caruso returns to London's West End and His Majesty's Theatre on May 31, 2026, to premiere her first non-autobiographical work.
Danced to an original score by Pittsburgh composer Ryan Onestak, who also composed the music for Incarnation, Counterpoint of Chaos tells the story of an office worker (Caruso) who fears new technology and clings to her tactile, old-fashioned way of doing things, such as writing everything down on paper, using a desk phone for communication, and storing her documents in file boxes.
When her increasing workload becomes untenable, she is given a computer equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) to help. Initially terrified of and unfamiliar with the new technology, she finds that, over time, using it helps her organize and manage her workload. Once AI is let into her work life, she takes it into her home and personal life, disrupting her once-predictable life in ways she never desired or dreamed of.
“I think there is a divide between people on using AI. Some say they don’t want anything to do with it and others feel they need it to survive in the workplace,” says Caruso. “AI can be incredibly impactful in discovering treatments for disease, or turning the average person into a composer. It also has its downsides when we allow it to live our lives for us.”
For fans of Caruso’s work making the trek to London or for local audiences there, Caruso says Counterpoint of Chaos will not be what audiences are used to seeing from her. “The music is very different from anything I have done, and the movement is very different from my other solo works,” says Caruso. “I have challenged myself with this piece, and I’m really excited about it.”
Maria Caruso performs Counterpoint of Chaos on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 7 p.m. at His Majesty's Theatre, 57 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4QL. Tickets are £16.50-£45.40
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