Genome Gnome is a speculative performance exploring the intersections of genetic determinism, trust, and relational fragility. Z. and H., separated by a wall, navigate the emotional fallout of genetic revelations. In H.’s space, a looming copy machine: “The Genome Gnome”, anchors the setting as both a mundane object and interpretive device.
Through a letter read aloud by H., Z.’s genetic profile becomes a source of tension, linking traits like aging, dishonesty, and performance ability to specific genes. Handouts distributed to the audience detail these associations, blending scientific authority with speculative narratives.
The performance resists resolution. As Z. and H. leave the stage, they leave the audience alone with lingering questions: Can trust survive in a world where biology is laid bare? What happens when relationships are mediated by data? Genome Gnome speculates the messy convergence of identity, technology, and the systems that define us.
The letter
