Instructions for Correct Assembly, Royal Court Theatre review ★★★★★

Conversations about artificial intelligence usually centre on the service-based industry or the ethics surrounding its implementation. But Thomas Eccleshare’s new futuristic drama at the Royal Court looks at how AI would enter into the family home. Distinctive and at times illuminating, Instructions for Correct Assembly is an expertly staged thought-experiment about AI, deep grief and family loss.

Max and Harry (Jane Horrocks and Mark Bonnar) are charming and convincing as a middle-aged couple whose next DIY excursion is building a robot named Jån (Brian Vernel). Not entirely coincidentally, Jån’s appearance is uncannily similar to their late son Nick, also played by Vernel, and Max and Harry process their residual guilt and remaining grief through rearing and shaping Jån’s personality/programming.

The entire cast is strong but Vernel is the stand-out as both Nick and Jån. He expertly shifts through Jån’s myriad settings with such precise physicality and fluidity. As Nick, he portrays a fully nuanced, endearing and tragic young man. Michele Austin as Laurie, a controlling, boasting mother and family-friend, is also excellent.

Although the script occasionally over-emphasises the parallels between programming Jån and parenting Nick, and falls short of fully examining how AI might infiltrate family dynamics, Hamish Pirie’s production is exceptionally done. Each scene is given as part of an assembly line, Cai Dyfan’s set slowly unpacked as the action continues. Apart from some slightly bizarre hopping movements between scenes, the entire design and atmosphere Pirie evokes is perfectly off-centre, and at times very poignant.

With some excellent performances and a strong production, Thomas Eccleshare’s Instructions for Correct Assembly is an intriguing play about AI, but more than anything gives insight into our own humanity.

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