A tech pioneer celebrated as a genius promotes his visionary projects to revolutionise the livelihood of people worldwide. A hacker warns against the accumulation of power by a few global corporations and researches artificial intelligence. A politician pushes the digitalisation of state institutions and is confronted with the challenges of disinformation, data and consumer protection.

Technology has pervaded all areas of society. BETA, here as a world premiere, explores not only the potential of digital tools but also the risks inherent in the monetarisation of relinquished private data. To what extent do the economic interests and tactics of tech multinationals clash with ethical issues and constitutional questions? How can European laws and state institutions effectively regulate the power of global high-tech corporations and protect people’s civic rights? The work is based on research by Christiane Mudra, a writer/director who uses leaks, legal texts and interviews with industry experts to explore the interplay between policymakers, society and tech concerns.

Dariya Maminova’s composition interweaves genres and blends live sounds with intricate electronic music, constantly toying with our perception of analogue and digitally generated music. Interactive tools encourage the audience to adopt a stance on the issues raised and influence the course of the performance.