Eddie Perfect turns Molière satire Tartuffe into a black comedy about AI
Actor and writer Eddie Perfect is adapting Molière's classic satire 'Tartuffe' into a black comedy for the Malthouse Theatre's 2027 season, replacing the original religious hypocrite with an AI robot. The production serves as a cautionary tale about the impact of artificial intelligence on human connection and creativity.
Why it matters
The play highlights the growing tension between the creative arts sector and the rapid integration of AI, reflecting broader societal debates regarding copyright, human cognition, and the value of live performance in a digital age.
Eddie Perfect's next project is an AI satire as part of Malthouse Theatre's 2027 season. ( Supplied )
Link copied Share Share article Eddie Perfect doesn't want his teenage daughters talking to AI chatbots.
"We have a rule in our house that no one talks to the machines," he says.
He sees the technology as outsourcing thinking and cognition, which he reckons is particularly harmful to young people.
"Maybe everyone should have access to AI once they turn 25, and that would be perfect," he says.
"I really hate it because I think it's coming for everything."
It's something Perfect has been thinking about a lot as he works on his latest show, a new adaptation of 17th-century French playwright Molière's Tartuffe for Melbourne's Malthouse Theatre.
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