A Guide to Survival in the 21st Century by Yael Ronen and Dimitrij Schaad, inspired by Yuval Noah Harari

“We wanted to change the world. Now we’re just trying to save ourselves.” An isolated laboratory, a team of researchers, an artificial intelligence – and the question of whether humanity can still be saved. Dr Stefan Frank, a specialist in gene pool optimisation, promises perfection: Diseases, weaknesses and physical imperfections can already be corrected in a Petri dish. Lana and René, too, are hoping for a perfect child. But research and success come at a price: Frank’s marriage is in crisis, and the smart-home assistant Alecto has long since moved beyond simply controlling the lights and the fridge …

Yet whilst the crises outside are coming to a head, inside people continue to believe in the superiority of the human mind: environmental disasters, political tensions, social conflicts – there seem to be technical solutions for everything. But when the machine suddenly starts asking questions, the supposed balance of power and morality begins to shift.

(R)Evolution is a fast-paced, biting and funny evening’s entertainment about faith in progress, loss of control and responsibility. Inspired by Yuval Noah Harari’s bestseller *21 Lessons for the 21st Century*, the play raises questions that shape our 21st century: Who decides when the machine is smarter than we are? What compromises are still acceptable, and where do the limits of human control lie?