Program
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Science&Theatre
Segment 3 of English Theatre Berlin´s Science&Theatre project includes a production of Anna Ziegler´s PHOTOGRAPH 51, a play about the race for the discovery of the structure of the DNA and the tragic role of Rosalind Franklin, and DESIGNER GENES, a series of shows, performances and an exhibition on synthetic biology by students from three Berlin schools. Using an artistic approach, it tries to raise general awareness of the challenges of modern genetics and synthetic biology that our society will have to deal with.
A cooperation of English Theatre Berlin with Prof. Regine Hengge (Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin
supported by 
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PHOTOGRAPH 51
by ANNA ZIEGLER
A science play about a revolutionary discovery - and how the boys took over
February 24 - March 10 (except Sunday and Monday) / 8pm
Tickets 18€ / 10€ Students / Tuesdays all tickets 9€ - book them online HERE and print them out at home!
POST-SHOW TALK WITH PROF. HENGGE AND THE CAST on THURSDAY MARCH 8th
In the early 1950s the young Jewish scientist Rosalind Franklin had to struggle with a frustratingly male-dominated science establishment at King´s College in London. Some of her colleagues even refused to acknowledge her doctoral title, while access to the faculty club, which was reserved to men, remained denied to her.
After months of work, she succeeded in taking the X-ray photograph that became the turning point for elucidating the DNA double helical structure: photograph 51. However, the credit for this revolutionary scientific discovery was given to the men who used the picture without her knowledge; Franklin´s crucial contribution went unacknowledged for decades.
When James Watson, Francis Crick and Franklin´s colleague Maurice Wilkins received the Nobel prize in 1962, she had been dead for four years.
In a nutshell, Anna Ziegler‘s play shows the making of an outstanding scientific discovery in a bone-dry, ritualized and women-excluding male establishment, in which an emotional minefield, social coldness and hierarchies, antisemitism and ferocious fighting for recognition and scientific priority went hand-in-hand with scientific curiosity, meticulousness and juvenile enthusiasm. (in 1952, James Watson was just 24 years old, Rosalind Franklin was 32 !).
the famous photo 51:
directed by Günther Grosser
with Anna Cramer, Ben Maddox, Erman Jones, Stuart Austen, Kevin McKinnon, Oskar Brown
Set design and Costumes: Tomas Fitzpatrick - Light Design: Katri Kuusimäki
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March 5th / 7pm
AN EVENING ON ‘WOMEN IN SCIENCE‘
Public lecture and discussion with Prof. Dr. Regine Hengge (Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin) on ‘Women in Science - Past and Present‘, followed by two documentary films by Rosemarie Reed on Lise Meitner (‘The Path to Nuclear Fission‘) und Irène and Frédéric Joliot-Curie (‘Out from the Shadows‘)
Tickets: 6€ / 4€ students
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DESIGNER GENES
Biopolitical scenarios from a terribly blessed future
February 6 - 8 / 7pm
The project consists of performances and an exhibition exploring synthetic biology, developed by students of Heinrich-Schliemann-Gymnasium, Humboldt-Gymnasium, and Leibniz-Schule.
Will synthetic biology provide us with ”improved” children, never-seen-before pets and ideal partners? Will we no longer accept our naturally-given characteristics, but rather enhance ourselves to become an ideal version of ourselves to reach our goals in life? Will the genetically engineered, beautified and improved half of humanity rule, while the other not so fortunate (or rich) half serves? Will we be able to eradicate deadly genetic diseases?
The answers to these and similar questions will come not in some distant utopia, but within our lifetimes. There will be unpredictable social consequences and challenges that our children will soon have to deal with. In the Science&Theatre school project ‘Designer Jeans Genes‘, some of them are already starting today!
February 6 - 8 / 7pm - Tickets 12€ / 8€ students / 4€ pupils - book your tickets HERE and print them out at home!
Project Management: Inka-Charlotte Palm - Concept, Drama Education & Directing: Inka-Charlotte Palm, Minna Partanen - Scientific coordination: Christine Kanow-Scheel - Additional Scene Writing: Ashley Brandt, Neal Cahoon, Juliane Schwarz, Cindy Reinhardt - Light: Christian Maith - Stage: Katja Anzelewsky - Video: Alex Forge - Costumes: Keren Shalef
Mit Unterstützung des Berliner Projektfonds Kulturelle Bildung und der Freien Universität Berlin
The exhibition on genetic experiments and artistic studies of the DNA as well as ethical viewpoints on the subject by students of the three schools opens on February 6 at 6pm and is open on performance days one hour before showtime until March 10th.
I, Ca$$ie…or The end of days
a piece by Matthew Earnest
performed by Nicole Perrone
produced by The Lunar Stratagem (Huntington, West Virginia, USA)
March 20 – 24 / 8pm - Tickets 14€ / 8€ - on Wednesday all tickets 7€
production design by William Bezek / sound design by James Kosmatka / stage manager Shelby Brewster
“Hi, I’m Ca$$ie, standard-bearer of the apocalypse! May I take your order?”
Inspired by Cassandra, the shrill prophet of doom from Greek mythology, Matthew Earnest’s piece features Ca$$ie – head cheerleader, homecoming queen, and soon-to-be-named valedictorian of Troy High School – doing community service hours in a fast food drive-thru. Ca$$ie is on probation for driving drunk after last week’s homecoming game, and ever since the resulting car accident that injured most of her friends and put her brother Hector in a coma, Ca$$ie has been having “the freakiest dreams,” horrifying visions about the end of the world. The most persistent one, about a tall horse at the gate, is especially annoying, and all Ca$$ie really wants is sleep.
“Somebody please just pour gasoline on my life and strike a match.”
IN THE PIPELINE
International Improv Theatre Festival 2012 (March) / The new 10-Minute Plays !! (April)