Being Human Festival - The Valley Children: Exploring Genetics Through Theatre
Staged reading of an original theatrical script, set in a near-future world of newborn genomic prediction, with Q&A.
- Date:
- Time:
- 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
- Event type:
- Drama
- Organiser:
- Antitheses
- Venue:
- Fusion Arts (Office Outlet space), 14 Park End Street, Oxford OX1 1HH
Description
Staged reading of an original theatrical script, set in a near-future world of newborn genomic prediction, along with audience Q&A.
‘The Valley Children: A theatrical event exploring the future of genetics’ will use dramatic narrative and audience discussion to explore questions of decision-making, uncertainty, responsibility and care in the context of predictive genomics, particularly around new born sequencing and its implications for families, clinicians and society.
A performed reading of the original script by Felix Westcott, will be followed by a panel and audience discussion event, including experts in medical ethics, medical philosophy and genomics, creative writing and theatre.
This is a free public event recommended for ages 16+.
This event is part of Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival of the humanities, taking place 5-14 November 2026. Led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy. For further information please see beinghumanfestival.org.
The panel will be chaired by Professor Mehrunisha Suleman, Associate Professor and Director of Medical Ethics and Law Education, Ethox Centre.
Panellists:
Dr Alberto Giubilini, Senior Research Fellow in Philosophy, Uehiro Oxford Institute and Academic Lead of Medical Humanities, University of Oxford.
Dr Felix Westcott, Playwright and MB PhD Student (Clinical Medical Student), Medical Sciences, University of Oxford.
Dr Caitlin Stobie, Teaching Fellow in Creative Writing, Warwick Writing Programme, University of Warwick.
‘The Valley Children: A theatrical event exploring the future of genetics’ will use dramatic narrative and audience discussion to explore questions of decision-making, uncertainty, responsibility and care in the context of predictive genomics, particularly around new born sequencing and its implications for families, clinicians and society.
A performed reading of the original script by Felix Westcott, will be followed by a panel and audience discussion event, including experts in medical ethics, medical philosophy and genomics, creative writing and theatre.
This is a free public event recommended for ages 16+.
This event is part of Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival of the humanities, taking place 5-14 November 2026. Led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy. For further information please see beinghumanfestival.org.
The panel will be chaired by Professor Mehrunisha Suleman, Associate Professor and Director of Medical Ethics and Law Education, Ethox Centre.
Panellists:
Dr Alberto Giubilini, Senior Research Fellow in Philosophy, Uehiro Oxford Institute and Academic Lead of Medical Humanities, University of Oxford.
Dr Felix Westcott, Playwright and MB PhD Student (Clinical Medical Student), Medical Sciences, University of Oxford.
Dr Caitlin Stobie, Teaching Fellow in Creative Writing, Warwick Writing Programme, University of Warwick.