How do you feel about the rapid advancement of technology and the very real possibility that one day we may be able to clone living beings, or even resurrect extinct species?
Does it spark curiosity, excitement, or a quiet unease about how far humanity should go?
These are precisely the questions at the heart of BLUR, a groundbreaking mixed-reality theatre and VR experience now running at PHI in Old Montreal.
BLUR: A Near-Future Immersive Encounter
Created by theatre innovator Craig Quintero and cultural entrepreneur Phoebe Greenberg, BLUR redefines what live performance can be. Presented in an intimate format for just ten audience members at a time, the experience merges live actors, motion capture, and extended reality technology to transport participants into a speculative near-future shaped by cloning and de-extinction.
Rather than observing from a distance, spectators become active participants. Wearing VR headsets, they move through a surreal digital landscape where physical and virtual worlds overlap seamlessly.
Live performers interact in real time through motion capture, creating a fluid dialogue between human presence and digital avatar. The result is both theatrical and deeply personal, raising questions about identity, ethics, and what it means to be human in an age of accelerating innovation.
Each session runs approximately 45 minutes, offering a tightly constructed and emotionally resonant journey. The experience is available in French, English, Mandarin, and Greek, reflecting Montreal’s multicultural fabric. Due to its immersive intensity and thematic depth, BLUR is only accessible for those aged 16 and up.
BLUR runs from February 18 to March 29, 2026, at PHI , located at 407 Saint-Pierre Street in Montreal. It is noteworthy that all available time slots have been fully booked up until the first week of March.
Hours are Tuesday to Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturday to Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The centre is closed on Mondays. Given the limited capacity per session, advance booking is strongly recommended. Tickets range from approximately 55$-60$ depending on access and exhibition tier.
For accessibility details, visitors are encouraged to consult the Plan Your Visit section on the PHI Centre’s official website.
Nuit Blanche at PHI: INTERFACES
On February 28, 2026, PHI will once again participate in Montreal’s celebrated Nuit Blanche festivities with INTERFACES, an evening dedicated to digital culture and creative experimentation. Extending into the night, the event will showcase immersive works and interactive installations in a vibrant, citywide festival atmosphere.
With BLUR anchoring a season defined by bold experimentation, the PHI Centre continues to affirm its role as one of Canada’s most forward-thinking cultural institutions.
Whether through immersive theatre, contemporary painting, or spatialized sound, PHI invites us to confront the future, and ourselves, with curiosity and courage.