Since a passionate researcher also needs to be creative, creativity is sometimes expressed in craziness. This summer craziness was expressed in theatre. By this my colleague Cristiana, me and some other scientists, challenged ourselves with theatre. Who said a scientists can´t be a good actor?

 

The theme of the night of investigators was “Future”. After discussions, we chose to translate the 200 year old story Frankenstein into a contemporary scientific play. We translated it from English to Portuguese and back from Portuguese to English for me. We also translated Frankenstein´s 200 year old problems to the problems we are facing today.

 

Our Frankenstein is a real womanizer. Together with his friend Claire, he builds up the first creature from body parts he “found” on the cemetery. Besides this relationship he proposed Elizabeth (Cristiana), his cousin, to marry him and to spend their life together. Whatever happened with Elizabeth, Frankenstein is going for the future. With Tuleva (me), his Finnish colleague (which is carrying also Frankie´s baby) he is using stem cell technologies to give the first creature a girlfriend (Noiva). At the end the Creature showed up to get his Noiva, not expecting to meet Claire in the lab which defended the Noiva. The Creature got very furious and killed Claire and the entering Security men. As revenge Frankenstein killed the Noiva. Tuleva completely shocked that he destroyed her work jumped, trying to rescue her cells, but the monstrous Creature was faster, hit her on the head and she fainted. After this spectacular showdown, the Creature disappeared and everything was destroyed.

 

 

We believe our theatre was a big success. Regarding that our songs, the thunders and all of sudden the awaking creature made a kid running away in tears. Not only serving shocking features, but also advancements in technology and funding. Frankenstein developed in our play from a scientist steeling body parts from the cemetery to a passionate stem cell engineer, supported by European funds.

 

I want to thank all the people taking part in the theatre, Mario for guiding us and to put the jigsaw together and the Science Museum in Coimbra giving the environment for this event. To play theatre in Portuguese was a great experience for me.

 

And tell me Frankenstein, o que é agora?