About me
Elsbeth Hoefkens is a theatre maker, dramaturg, and researcher. In 2021, she obtained her degree in Theatre Education at the ArtEZ University of the Arts in Arnhem, and in 2023, she completed the master’s programme Contemporary Theatre, Dance, and Dramaturgy at Utrecht University. She has experience as a teacher, dramaturg, researcher and creator, working with organisations such as the Delft Fringe Festival, Festival de Oversteek, Hofplein Theater, Oostpool, ITA, and Theater na de Dam.
Key fascinations in her work include human perception and contemporary technologies, such as AI, deepfakes, algorithms, and robotics.
Becoming real – Full walk-through experience
Becoming real – Short walk-through experience
Gier by Christopher Rüping, Deutsches Theater, Berlin 2025 (photo by Thomas Aurin)
A Dramaturgical and Artistic Research into Theatre and Digital Technology
In early 2025, I had the opportunity to conduct an artistic research project in Berlin, exploring the role of digital technologies in contemporary German theatre. Supported by Culture Moves Europe and in collaboration with the Ernst Busch University of Theatre Arts, I attended 33 performances across 8 theatres and spoke with 16 theatre makers—ranging from Ernst Busch alumni to internationally renowned groups like Rimini Protokoll and Gob Squad.
As a dramaturg and theatre maker from the Netherlands, this project allowed me to combine theoretical inquiry with artistic experimentation. I explored how technologies such as AI, video, VR, and other digital tools shape what we see, feel, and experience on stage—and how they can influence audience engagement.
From this research, two key outcomes emerged:
- An essay titled “Materialising the Digital: A Double-Layered Approach to Technology in Theatre”
This text offers a dramaturgical analysis of three performances and proposes a conceptual model—a double-layered approach—to understand the artistic and technical integration of digital technology in theatre.
- A virtual world titled Becoming real
Built in Unity, this immersive environment artistically translates the insights, observations, and questions that arose during my research. It’s not just a visual summary, but a creative reflection of my evolving artistic vision.
Both the essay and the virtual world are available on this page. You can read the essay (full or short version), watch a video recording of the virtual world, or explore the interactive digital space of Becoming real yourself via: https://elsbeth-hoefkens.itch.io/becoming-real-2025
I invite you to engage, wander, and reflect along with me as I continue to investigate the dynamic intersection of theatre and technology.
“Materialising the Digital: A Double-Layered Approach to Technology in Theatre” — Full Version
“Materialising the Digital: A Double-Layered Approach to Technology in Theatre” — Short Version
The short film PuinHoop premieres on May 4th at 8:30 PM.