Mia is convinced her flat is haunted. She lives alone, and Rob, her non-committal boyfriend, refuses to move in. With the strange noises refusing to stop, Mia takes matters into her own hands and orders a friend online. An artificial friend, who appears to be much more human than Mia expected. When the friend, Ali, arrives, Mia must teach her how to be the human friend she needs. The two grow close. Mia is thrilled with her lifelike companion, and Ali learns everything she can from her human instructor. Ali soon discovers that she wants to be like Mia. To have a human life like her. And she will stop at nothing to get it.

‘Assembly Required’ examines the relationship between technology and humans; and imagines a world where artificial intelligence is virtually indistinguishable from humanity. ‘Assembly Required was first produced by Headrush, Ireland in July 2019 in the Naughton Studio, Lyric Theatre Belfast.

Written by Jonathan M. Daley

Ciara Mackey as “Mia”

Elliot Lloyd as “Rob”

Debra Hill as “Ali”

Directed by Conal Clapper

Set Design by Tracey Lindsay

Costume Design by Rebecca Hughes

Lighting Design by Alan Mooney

Original Music & Sound Design by Katie Richardson

Assistant Sound Design by Stuart Robinson

Stage Management by Caoimhe McGee

Production Management by Stephen Dix

Produced by Headrush, Ireland

To read an extract of the script, click here. To read the whole script, please contact me.

Reviews

“This is definitely one of those plays that have you talking about it the whole way home and still coming up with more questions even the next day.” – PastieBap

“[The] script by Jonathan M. Daley, is familiar in plot but distinctively grim, visual and intelligent in nature, the old adage of artificial intelligence possibly not being so artificial after all shaken up and refreshed by Headrush Ireland” – BigListNi

“Artificial intelligence is an ambitious topic to tackle, and there’s a definite maturity about the ethical issues that are drawn out.” - AlanInBelfast