Why I Still Believe in Live Performance (Even in a Digital World) By Chris Conidis – Writer, Filmmaker, Performing Artist | Saint Cloud, FL
- chrisconidis5
- May 25
- 2 min read
In an age where every voice competes for attention on a screen from all the amassing of technologies, it might seem strange that I’ve doubled down on live performance. But here’s the truth: nothing beats the moment when a freely improvised story unfolds in real time, with real people, in the same physical space.
Whether I’m workshopping improv in Toronto, developing a solo show like Inconsolable, or testing new ideas for FANDUMB, the live audience remains my best collaborator. They breathe life into the material. They change the shape of the story with their reactions. And when something clicks — when a joke lands, when silence holds — it’s magic that can't be replicated by an algorithms or even scripted material.
From Pixels to People
I’ve worked across formats — animation, short film, digital satire. My projects like Toolmaker and Return to Adam’s Earth are built for screens and speculative futures. But even those started with roughs on paper and character tests on stage.
The digital world may distribute stories faster. But the live world tests them more honestly. That’s why I keep returning to the stage — because real performance offers something social media never can: presence.
Why It Still Matters
Theater, improv, spoken word — these aren’t relics. They’re blueprints for connection. In an age of filters, fake news, and performative everything, true presence feels radical.
That’s why I still teach. Why I still direct. Why I still perform.Because no matter how advanced the tech gets, the most powerful experience is still one human being talking to another — with nothing in between.
This July, I’m back coaching improv classes in Toronto.
If you’ve already taken classes with me or RJ, feel free to reach out and reconnect. New? Shoot me a DM — I’ll send you the sign-up info. Thanks!
I’m Chris Conidis, a writer, filmmaker, and performing artist based in Saint Cloud, Florida. I create projects that combine satire, storytelling, and live improvisation — from dystopian stage shows like Progress City to conceptual formats like FANDUMB. I also run workshops in Toronto, Chicago, and beyond.
