The first ever robot was a steam powered pigeon made in 400 BCE. While the pigeons may have been fooled, are humans quite so easy? In a world where robots are becoming more human and humans are becoming more robotic, the line between the two is increasingly blurred.

Pigeon Fool is a half-hour theatrical Turing Test meets game show, exploring humanness in the midst of the AI revolution. This new interactive tabletop theatre work blends cunning algorithms and virtual beings to put its audience to the test. Humans must recognise each other, while the bots try to pass undetected. In a game of creativity, self-analysis and connection, will anyone believe you when your humanity gets put to the test?

Check out the Pigeon Fool 2025 trailer here.

WILL AI BE A FORCE FOR GOOD OR A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH?

Join award-winning investigative journalist Karen Hao as she unpacks the rise of OpenAI and their race for global dominance in Karen Hao: Empire of AI on Thursday, 4 September. Register Now!

TICKETS 

General Public | $15
UNSW Student, Staff & Alumni | $5
*Plus booking fees

EVENT INFORMATION

Show Times
Tuesday 2 September | 4.30pm – 7.30pm
Wednesday 3 September | 11.30am – 7.30pm
Thursday 4 September | 11.30am – 8.15pm
Friday 5 September | 11.30am – 7.30pm
Saturday 6 September | 10am – 3.30pm

Duration
35 mins

Lockout
This performance has a complete lockout. Patrons arriving after the start of show time will not be admitted. 

Venue
The Io Myers Studio is located inside the Esme Timbery Creative Practice Lab at UNSW Sydney's Kensington Campus.

Warnings
Pigeon Fool occurs in a dark room and involves movement in and out of the theatre space. There are some lighting effects, including strobe lighting, and the performance relies on sound design and dialogue channelled through over-ear headphones each participant wears. Please take this into consideration when booking tickets if you are hard of hearing or use hearing aids/other auditory assistance devices. 

Age Recommendation
10+

ACCESS

Wheelchair Access
The closest accessible drop-off point to the Io Myers Studio is via Gate 2, High Street (highlighted pink on this map) and turn right at the roundabout. The entrance is immediately on your left under the concrete steps, opposite the University Terraces Car Park. More information on getting there can be found via our interactive accessibility map available here.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT & PARKING

The Esme Timbery Creative Practice Lab is easily accessible via public transport. For more information please call the Transport Infoline on 131 500 or visit transportnsw.info.

Paid casual and visitor parking is offered via the CellOPark App and ‘pay by plate meters’ in all UNSW car parks. For more information head here, and the closest carparks are University Terraces and the Western Campus Car Park.

CONTACT 

For all the other enquiries, please email centreforideas@unsw.edu.au or call the Centre for Ideas on 02 9065 0485.

The Centre for Ideas is happy to receive phone calls via the National Relay Service. TTY users, phone 133 677, then ask for 02 9065 0485. Speak and Listen users, phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 02 9065 0485. For more information on all other relay calls visit here.