Type: Fringe Theatre, Digital Theatre, Solo Show
If You Liked: Black Mirror, I, Robot, Impending Everyone
The online artistic community is abuzz lately about the creeping march and infiltration of, or sometimes the outright use of “AI art,” into our community. A quick skim over the Adelaide Fringe guide and you’ll find a dozen or so shows that seem to be entirely AI created or assisted, yet, very very few shows have been brave enough to tackle the ethics of it all, that was until the brilliant, yet deeply unsettling, The Infinity Mirror by Lily Hayman opened as part of this year’s festival.
From the outset, Lily acknowledges the elephant in the room; that AI has played a part in her own life – but she also acknowledges that half of everything we’re about to hear about, and play witness to, (like with most AI responses) is also made up. From there we are launched into the story of ‘Lily Hayman,’ an established theatre maker that finds their life upended when a series of deep fake AI generated porn videos of her are uploaded all over the internet.
Hayman is deeply engaging throughout the show’s 55 minute run time, disclosing some very exposing parts of her past, explaining how she and her community tried to unravel how these videos came to exist, and how a series of decisions by Hayman herself played a part in their creation. The show tackles the “oh I just use AI to streamline things” argument in an unnerving ‘this could happen to anyone,’ way.
The show plays host to the most unique conversation I’ve seen about the age of digital footprints. It explores how unchecked use of AI could expand any one of our footprints in devastating directions without us ever having to take those steps, willingly or knowingly. It also includes a super important discussion about consent, not just in relation to deep fakes, but about when people find out they’ve been catfished, either by a human or a machine.
Part way through the show we end up speaking to an actual AI avatar of Hayman, while Hayman is still on stage. While it has that glitchy AI helpbot avatar loop visually, Hayman (the real one) admits that, while she created the digital persona, even she was shocked when in a previous performance the Digital Hayman was able to recall a real piece of information that it was never fed. At the end of the production, like most fringe shows you get the chance to chat to the artist outside the venue, but it’s the only show that you could, if you wanted to, stay inside and speak to “them” too. A handful of patrons at this session chose to, and speaking to them after, they said while fascinating it was just a bit rattling.
The Infinity Mirror is a remarkable new piece of theatre that has ethically integrated AI technology to explore and encourage broader discussion about the unethical uses of it. This is a pertinent piece of contemporary theatre that ought to hit the road; be taken through schools, workplaces, and shared in homes. It is an eye-opening lesson for anyone who is, or could end up chronically online. I have no doubt this show will be seen again, and when it does tour near you, it’s a must see.
See our other reviews from the 2026 Adelaide Fringe in the link below
Tickets and Practical Info for SHOW at FESTIVAL 🎟️
Playing at The Gallery at The Courtyard of Curiosities at the Migration Museum from 17 – 22 March, 2026
Keep an eye on Lily’s website for possible future dates: https://www.lilyhayman.com/infinity
