Panacea explores the ethics of scientific innovation through the story of Professor Augustus ‘Gus’ Jamieson who is creating an infectious vaccine. As he navigates academia and love, Gus confronts the dark side of ambition and progress, raising questions about the true cost of ground-breaking discoveries and scientific responsibility.
Panacea was born from a collaboration between microbiologist Singer and James, a theatre creative with a background in psychoanalysis. It is inspired by the real-life ethical dilemmas faced by scientists, with antibiotics losing the battle against mutating microbes and new viruses threatening to wipe out humanity, science faces the ongoing challenge to try to predict and combat infectious diseases.
Cutting edge developments going on in labs around the world, to create an infectious vaccine that can be released into the environment, could leave humans without a choice. This possibility provided the stimulus for Gus’ story, which Singer and James wrote and debuted at The Cockpit in January 2025. Singer & James collaborate widely across science, policy, and the arts to translate complex global challenges into public understanding and action. This is the debut play from the pair. Singer is a Principal Scientist at the UKCEH, leading research on antimicrobial resistance in the environment, James is a theatre creative and academic.
Tyner and James are hugely passionate about new writing and excited to take this production on two national tours. They have loved the challenge of bringing the science and theatre worlds together in a play that has its finger on the pulse of contemporary science.
Isabelle Tyner studied at RADA and Birkbeck before working as a director-in-residence for 2.5 years at Eltham College. She is now a freelance creative and her excitement for new writing has led her to work on projects at Camden Fringe, on feature films and at Brighton Fringe for the multi award-winning ‘Sitting (In Silence)’. Isabelle had her debut directing show ‘Face’ receive 5 stars from Rated Reviewed before going onto assist on 2 shows at Riverside Studios this summer.
Birmingham | Midlands Arts Centre | 17th November (19:30)
www.macbirmingham.co.uk/events/panacea
London | The Cockpit Theatre | 24th and 25th November April (19:15)
www.thecockpit.org.uk/show/panacea
Liverpool | The Hope Street Theatre | 27th November (19:30)
