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 optimization, promises perfection: Diseases, weaknesses, and physical imperfections can already be corrected in a Petri dish. Lana and René, too, hope 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 stopped merely controlling the lights and the refrigerator …
But while the crises outside come to a head, those inside continue to believe in the superiority of the human mind: environmental disasters, political tensions, social conflicts—there seem to be technical solutions for everything. Yet when the machine suddenly starts asking questions, the supposed balance of power and morality begins to tip.
(R)Evolution is a fast-paced, biting, and humorous evening of theater 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 define 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?
