Ticketing information will be available soon.
What moment in your life made you feel most alive? First staged in Mandarin Chinese at the Wuzhen Theatre Festival in 2024, Lying Flat 2.0 (Tangping 2.0) is an immersive, participatory theatre work that integrates live-feed video projection and real-time use of AI in performance to interrogate pressing existential questions.
Lying Flat 2.0 is directed by Wang Chong, a leading contemporary experimental theatre maker, and produced by Théâtre du Rêve Expérimental. It also has been performed at Tsinghua University and Drum Tower West Theatre in Beijing and was nominated for "Best Innovative Play" at the 9th annual Chinese Theatre Awards.
The play is co-written by Wang Chong and ChatGPT, combining human creativity with AI computing power to explore the boundaries between reality and virtuality. Music in the show is generated by Suno AI, and the posters were designed by Midjourney, exploring the integration of artistic expression and cutting-edge technology. In addition, ChatGPT participates as one of the actors, playing the role of "Gao Puti" and interacting with the audience in real time.
Limited to 24 audience members per show, this immersive experience takes participants aboard a spaceship bound for the "Lying-Down Planet" under the guidance of the AI "Gao Puti". Throughout the performance, audience members literally “lay flat” while watching live-feed video of human actors and ChatGPT visualizations projected onto a large screen hanging above them. As the journey progresses, more about the mysterious "Lying-Down Planet" is revealed and participants must confront a series of thought-provoking questions through interactions with the AI and actors.
As China's first theatrical work deeply engaged with generative artificial intelligence in its creation and performance, Lying Flat 2.0 not only incorporates AI technology in scriptwriting, performance, music, and visuals, but also completely subverts the audience expectations and challenges our very understanding of what constitutes “theatre.”
This production is part of Wang Chong's guest artist residency. During the residency, Wang Chong will work with Notre Dame students enrolled in a special spring-break arts intensive seminar to rehearse and perform the play.
Learn more about the seminar and residency
Please note: Each performance has only 24 reclining seats and lasts approximately 70 minutes. It is recommended that audience members be 18 years of age or older; children under 4’ tall are not permitted entry. As part of the performance, audience members will remove their shoes and socks, lie down on a wheeled bed, and be moved into/around the theatre space. Visitors will be invited to interact with the performers (including an AI chatbot) during the performance and live video feed of audience members will be projected on screen. Audience members with access needs are encouraged to contact the theatre venue in advance of purchasing a ticket to determine accommodations.
About the Venue
The DeBartolo Performing Arts Center is located on the south side of the University of Notre Dame campus and directly north of Eddy Street Commons. Free parking is available daily after 4:00 pm in the Stayer Center parking lot, just north of the center. Patrons may now receive free event parking at the Eddy Street Commons Parking Garage by bringing your event tickets and parking ticket to the DPAC Ticket Office to receive a pre-paid parking voucher.
An accessible lot for disabled patrons is available immediately adjacent to the center; a valid hangtag or license plate is required. There is a ten-minute parking zone on the north drive of the center for ticket pick-up; during inclement weather you are welcome to drop off guests in this area and proceed to parking.
Visit DPAC’s website for more information on ticketing, travel and parking, and accessibility details. The Ticket Office will work with you to create a comfortable and enjoyable experience; please contact the Ticket Office at (574) 631-2800 with any questions.
Funding & Support
This performance is made possible with funding from the Department of Film, Television, and Theatre, the Franco Institute for Liberal Arts and the Public Good, the College of Arts and Letters Teaching Beyond the Classroom program, the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, and Notre Dame Global.
Venue and staffing support provided by DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.
Lying Flat 2.0 is a partner program of the 2027 Notre Dame Arts Biennial and is supported with funding from the Notre Dame Arts Initiative.
Photo courtesy of Wuzhen Theatre Festival.