Improbable Sessions: AI and Consciousness

Date: Tue, 23 September 2025 · 19:30 - 20:45
Cost: From £15
Venue: Oxford Playhouse
Address: Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2LW, United Kingdom
Event page: https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/improbable-sessions

Improbable Sessions: AI and Consciousness 🎶🤖

On Tuesday 23/09/2025, experience a unique fusion of improvised music and big ideas at the Oxford Playhouse. In this one-of-a-kind session, incredible musicians create glorious soundscapes in real time, responding to talks from leading thinkers in artificial intelligence.

The evening explores the theme of AI and consciousness - what it means for us as humans, and how we might approach the debate in fresh, creative ways. As the experts speak, the music responds, creating a dynamic conversation between words and sound.

About the band:
Led by master musical improviser Chris Ash (keys) with Joley Cragg (percussion), Juliet Colyer (cello), and Max Gittings (woodwind), the ensemble blends jazz, folk, chamber music, and free-form improvisation. Their work spans the National Theatre, London Jazz Festival, Shakespeare’s Globe, and even one-to-one performances in hospitals.

What to expect:

  • 🎵 Live, improvised music shaped by the flow of ideas
  • 🧠 Engaging talks on AI and consciousness
  • 🎭 A format that’s part gig, part TED-style talk, all experiment

Suitable for ages 9+, duration 1hr 15mins, no interval.