San Francisco Ballet: Mere Mortals at Sadler’s Wells

Described as “reimagining the story of Pandora’s Box through the lens of our tech-driven age”, Mere Mortals parallels ancient myth with contemporary society in a cautionary and timely tale. A testament to ballet being anything but old-fashioned, it’s a clever and thought-provoking way to explore artificiality through the most human artistic expression.

In the ancient Greek myth, Pandora is the first mortal woman created by the gods. After being given a jar by Zeus, which she is warned never to open, she gives in to temptation and unknowingly unleashes evil and misery into the world, leaving only hope trapped inside. Artistic director Tamara Rojo describes how it “poses universal questions about technology, humanity and the risks we take in the name of progress”. It’s a fascinating subject to explore through ballet, as dance is perhaps one of the only art forms as yet safe from the impact of AI. While hugely concerning for the creative industries, unlike film, television and music, living and breathing bodies and the liberated and often spiritual experience conjured cannot be replicated.

Michelle Jank’s costume design features broad-shouldered black coats and latex bodysuits, as a sea of bodies hypnotically sweeps across the stage. Composer and producer Sam Shepherd, known as Floating Points, plays the Buchla synthesiser amongst the live orchestra, perfectly accompanying synchronised limbs that contort and spasm, each dancer indistinguishable from the next. Enjoyable isn’t the right adjective to describe the mechanical, albeit technically immaculate performance, as the sinister mass of black costumes and the dissonant electronic soundscape are devoid of any joy and unsettling to watch. While the intention may be to personify the soullessness of AI, the result is visually unengaging and monotonous.

The moment at which Pandora opens the jar is represented by a god-like figure in front of a backdrop with visuals of rolling clouds and shifting landscapes, as evil, or artificial intelligence, infiltrates the universe. Promethean, with arms outstretched, giant psychedelic shapes overwhelm the screen behind. CGI is often the central focal point of the performance, distracting from the dancers who frequently camouflage into the darkness below. Again, this feels like a deliberate artistic choice to highlight the seemingly omnipotent force that we mere mortals are up against, but the entertainment value suffers as a result.

In a world where humans are struggling to compete against the ever-evolving potential of AI, just as in the Pandora myth, not all hope is lost. While the seemingly limitless power of technology continues to impact our world in unfathomable ways, the true definition of dance has been and will always remain beautifully and uniquely human.

Gala Woolley
Photos: Courtesy of San Francisco Ballet

San Francisco Ballet: Mere Mortals is at Sadler’s Wells from 9^th until 12^th September 2026. For further information or to book, visit the theatre’s website here.