Update
We’re thrilled to announce that the Alex Theatre is reopening! Faced with the option of keeping our doors closed, we recognised the profound impact this would have on our beloved Fitzroy Street business community. We simply couldn’t stand by and let that happen. Therefore, we’ve partnered with a promoter we deeply respect to bring exciting new productions to the stage, starting with what we hope will be the first of many shows.
Our vision for the Alex Theatre has always been to create a vibrant creative hub, and live entertainment is a crucial part of that vision. We’re confident our partners will deliver exceptional and engaging experiences. We’ll be sharing more about them in the coming weeks, as we’re still in the early stages of this collaboration. Reopening a venue is a complex undertaking, far more so than closing one, but we are filled with hope and excitement for what lies ahead.
Cruel Intentions and a New Focus on Technology
As our partners prepare their first 2025 production, Cruel Intentions, Alex Read Theatre Performances Inc. with the support of Vass Productions will be working alongside them, focusing on an area we’ve been developing behind the scenes for the past eight years: the profound impact of technology on the arts and entertainment industry.
We believe the rapid pace of technological change represents both the greatest threat and the most exciting opportunity our industry has ever faced. Consider these examples:
- AI-Generated Content: Artificial intelligence is now capable of generating realistic images, composing music, writing scripts, and even creating basic video content. This has implications for everything from marketing and advertising to the creation of entire artistic works.
- Immersive Experiences: Virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) are transforming how audiences experience art and entertainment, creating immersive and interactive environments.
- Data Analytics and Audience Engagement: Data analytics tools provide unprecedented insights into audience preferences, allowing for more targeted marketing and personalized experiences.
The Exponential Growth of Technology
Technology is not simply advancing linearly; it’s growing exponentially. This principle, often referred to as Moore’s Law (originally observed regarding the doubling of transistors on integrated circuits every two years, but now applied more broadly to technological advancement), means the rate of change is accelerating. This implies that the changes we see today are just the tip of the iceberg, and the pace of innovation will only increase.
Just a few short years ago, text-based AI was in its infancy. Now, we have sophisticated language models capable of generating creative text formats, translating languages, writing different kinds of creative content, and answering your questions in an informative way. Image generation tools have gone from producing abstract patterns to creating photorealistic images in a similarly short time. And now, text-to-video AI is emerging, rapidly improving in quality and sophistication. This rapid development highlights the accelerating pace of technological advancement.

Technology is not simply advancing linearly; it’s growing exponentially. This principle, often referred to as Moore’s Law (originally observed regarding the doubling of transistors on integrated circuits every two years, but now applied more broadly to technological advancement), means the rate of change is accelerating. This implies that the changes we see today are just the tip of the iceberg, and the pace of innovation will only increase.
Just a few short years ago, text-based AI was in its infancy. Now, we have sophisticated language models capable of generating creative text formats, translating languages, writing different kinds of creative content, and answering your questions in an informative 1 way. Image generation tools have gone from producing abstract patterns to creating photorealistic images in a similarly short time. And now, text-to-video AI is emerging, rapidly improving in quality and sophistication. This rapid development highlights the accelerating pace of technological advancement.
Embracing Change and Opportunity
While these changes can feel overwhelming, they also present incredible opportunities for creative expression. Just as the advent of recording technology didn’t kill live music (vinyl is even making a comeback!), new technologies will create new forms of art and entertainment while existing forms adapt and evolve. We see this as a chance to expand the reach of the arts and create even more engaging experiences for audiences.
Join Us in Shaping the Future
To navigate this exciting new era, we need your support and involvement. We’re launching a redesigned website www.artperformances.org.au that will serve as a hub for information, resources, and community engagement around the intersection of technology and creativity.
We invite you to join us on this journey. Whether you’re an artist, a technologist, an arts enthusiast, or simply someone who cares about the future of creativity, we welcome your input and participation. Reach out to us – let’s build the future of the arts together.