The following South African theatre workshops, organised to promote the "Public Understanding of Biotchnology", centre on the work of Y-Touring Theatre Company. As noted below, Y-Touring -- the "YMCA's award winning professional touring theatre company" -- have developed "five theatre of debate projects in the UK (on cloning, GM foods, genetic testing etc)". The South African workshops are being facilitated by Nigel Townsend of Y-Touring.

According to the blurb, Y-Touring's way of working, "involves a process of bringing scripts writers/drama groups and scientists together in a workshop to investigate the role of drama as an innovative educational and debate tool and to introduce a number of creative tools that have been successfully used by Y-Touring."

All of which sounds reasonable enough. However, the reality of some of Y-Touring's work in this area is less than reassuring

Y-Touring's play on GM foods was commissioned by the John Innes Centre (JIC), together with the Teacher Scientist Network based at the Centre, and was originally intended to tour UK secondary schools.

The JIC stated that the aim of this project was to meet the desperate need of young people for straightforward, unbiased information on GM. An accompanying Information Pack for teachers described how the project was developed in such a way as to ensure that the script, the structured debate which accompanies the play, and the Information Pack itself, provided "unbiased and representative coverage of the range of viewpoints that exist." It also stated that all the would-be script writers were required to participate in a "laboratory day" on GM involving a wide range of viewpoints.

However, Luke Anderson who was present at the "laboratory day", reports that he was the only person there who was not pro-GM. He writes, "I was totally outnumbered in the room with everyone else from industry etc. I complained that it was unfair for there just to be me against GE in the room."
http://www.lobbywatch.org/p2temp2.asp?aid=12&page=1&op=1

A review of the play by Dr Jeremy Bartlett, who earned his doctorate in plant genetics at John Innes, makes apparent the resulting bias. He desribes the story-line:

"Jenny, who is very house-proud, works for an advertising agency and has a fiance, Ben, who is a campaigner against GM foods. He is a boorish character who dresses up in a carrot mask and forces Jenny to type up his speeches even though she is ill with 'flu. He feels inadequate and is using GM as a way to gain fame and popularity.

"Andy is an untidy Dr. Who addict who moves into Jenny's flat. Before long Jenny, who has a very weak personality, is watching Dr. Who and the Seeds of Doom instead of washing up. Andy turns out to be a laboratory technician and is the calm, rational scientist who can see benefits in GM technology, whilst ironically remaining a member of Greenpeace. Jenny eventually leaves Ben because their views have diverged so much. Although she originally shared Ben's views on GM, she has no qualms by the end of the play in accepting a job promoting "U-Save", a supermarket that sells GM foods."
http://www.lobbywatch.org/p2temp2.asp?aid=31&page=1&op=1

Dr Bartlett ommments, "The play was well written, well acted and enjoyable, with plenty of humour. What concerns me is the messages that it will put across to an audience of susceptible 14 - 16 year olds.

"The GM campaigner looks ridiculous, behaves deviously, has no proper arguments against GM and loses the girl. His fiancee listens to the rational scientist and furthers her career by promoting GM foods. We're told that science is pure and unbiased and that only scientists are qualified to comment on GM."
http://www.lobbywatch.org/p2temp2.asp?aid=31&page=1&op=1

On the occasion that Dr Bartlett saw the play, "The debate that followed was led by Dr. Belinda Clarke, the scientific advisor, who works at the John Innes Centre... The misinformation on offer included:

"Big business is a good thing and biotechnology firms are helping the Third World by providing their expertise, often free of charge. GM crops will solve lots of problems by making better crops that last longer and need less herbicide to produce. Government controls are in place... Organic farming will never feed the world."

The information pack accompanying the play, according to Dr Bartlett, followed the same trend.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/p2temp2.asp?aid=31&page=1&op=1
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Invitation to Biotechnology Theatre Workshop
Public Understanding of Biotechnology Programme
in partnership with British Council
invite you to participate in:
"Genetic Futures - Theatre and Biotechnology"
5 - 6 October 2004
UNISA Little Theatre,
287 Skinner Street, Pretoria
or
13 - 14 October 2004
ARTSCAPE Theatre Centre, Cnr Hertzog Boulevard & DF Malan St (Opposite Civic Centre), Cape Town

This two-day practical workshop, facilitated by Nigel Townsend of Y-Touring Theatre Company, UK is for theatre practitioners and biotechnologists and aims to:

a.. Explore the underlying science and ethical issues raised by biotechnology for a range of audiences;

b.. Introduce South African script writers, drama groups and biotechnologists to the complexity of communicating biotechnology issues using drama and to promote a better understanding of both the science and the ethics involved;

c.. Use theatre and promote drama as a means of increasing informed debate about the impact of science on society, particularly in the field of biotechnology;

d.. Provide a foundation for developing good quality scripts with accurate, biotechnology content that could potentially be produced and performed around South Africa - providing a valuable educational resource for science, humanities teachers and youth leaders; and

e.. Introduce participants to the work of Y-Touring Theatre Company who have developed five theatre of debate projects in the UK (on cloning, GM foods, genetic testing etc).

Participation is free and lunch will be provided.

Travel and accommodation will also be offered for those located elsewhere in the country to participate in the nearest workshop.

Please note that space is limited, so please book your space now to ensure your participation!

A more detailed programme will be sent to interested individuals.

To book your space and for more information, please reply to Carol Xulu

at [email protected] or call 012 392 9314

at latest by Thursday 30th September.

Y-Touring

Y-Touring, UK is Central YMCA's award winning professional touring theatre company for young people and adults. Through high quality productions, the company helps create a greater awareness and understanding of sensitive, contemporary concerns that affect our lives.

Y-touring has already developed a number of high quality scripts on different aspects of biotechnology and has extensive experience in the development of good scripts. This involves a process of bringing scripts writers/drama groups and scientists together in a workshop to investigate the role of drama as an innovative educational and debate tool and to introduce a number of creative tools that have been successfully used by Y-touring.

Anticipated outcomes:

a.. Better understanding of the complexity and up-to-date knowledge of the current hot issues of biotechnology by drama groups and by general public once drama production on tour;
b.. Expert knowledge of drama as a creative, innovate me