rob elsworthy 

 AI Storytelling for Theatre Creators

In this hands-on two-day workshop, theatre artists/actors/dancers will explore the creative potential of artificial intelligence in character-driven storytelling. Using accessible AI tools like Midjourney and Runway’s Act 1, participants will generate striking visual character concepts and craft short scenes around them—blending theatrical instincts with new tech-driven approaches to worldbuilding and narrative design.

Over the course of six hours, you'll:

  • Prompt and refine unique character and scene visuals using Midjourney.

  • Collaborate to write or improvise a short scene based on your AI-generated characters.

  • Rehearse, perform, and record a short video performance as reference

  • Animate your AI-generated characters using your own acting as input. Participants will record reference videos that drive performance using Runway’s Act 1, turning still images into moving scenes.

No prior experience with AI or gaming is required. just your imagination and curiosity. Bring a laptop if you have one; shared tools will also be available. This is a space to experiment, collaborate, and rethink what performance and storytelling can look like in an evolving digital landscape.

About Your Instructor

Rob Elsworthy

Rob Elsworthy has had a successful career in the media industry spanning two decades. He is an Award winning Music Video Director, and has over 15 years of experience in the Games industry. He has worked on projects like Metal Gear Solid, Max Payne, Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption as an Animator, VFX Artist and Game Designer.

He recently started Resistr Interactive, to make socially aware games and promote diversity in the industry. He is currently the Program Director for Video Game Design and Animation at Toronto Film School and is developing a game workshop series in partnership with CODEX.

As a speaker, panelist, and advisory board member, Rob has contributed to workshops and events for Tedx, Interactive Ontario, and the Black Youth Design Initiative, hoping to inspire the next generation of game creators.