A large cast futuristic Simpson-esque drama (10 Female, 8 Male) for school drama groups, youth theatres and Amateur groups (56 pages).

The text includes comprehensive background notes and suggested activities to introduce your group to the themes, the context and the underlying science explored in Genes ’r’ Us.

Synopsis
It is a world in which teenagers have no control over their lives and the adults are a pretty unsavory lot. While teenagers are anxiously wondering who they are and what they would like to become, the grown ups are busy zapping their wrinkles or rolling joints. Sounds familiar?

Except – the year is 2040. Genetics is the new religion, praise be the double helix the new chant. The government of the day has been nurturing a generation of kids from zero to 12 at Sunday school designed to teach them the impact of genes on behaviour, in a massive social engineering project. The first ever Pick-a-Gene day is being organised with all the fervour of a bar mitzvah and a Pop Idol audition.

In this play with almost 30 characters, we follow the fortunes of a group of friends. There’s Theo the nerd who desperately wants to be a daredevil, Michelle who keeps forgetting what she wants changing, Adam who’s in danger of living out his parents dream and his disabled twin sister, Zoe, who wants confidence and finally there’s Marissa the rapping rebel who spits:

“We can achieve greatness through sweat and blood, Not gamble with our genes and lose the bet, blud”

Did they lose the bet?

Themes
The future of Human Genetics – how the new knowledge could be used, Genes and Behaviour, Gene Therapy

Background
Rahila Gupta worked with Hyart Youth Theatre and Scientist Professor Bernadette Modell. They explored Genes and Behaviour. Genes ’r’ Us was first performed at the Compass Theatre, Hillingdon on November 30th 2004.

Oberon Books

Purchase and download at the National Theatre Bookshop

	For further information about this project, email our Tour Producer David Jackson