Drinking Brecht (2023)

National Sawdust, MAX Festival, 2023

Using DNA extracted from a hat worn by actors in Bertolt Brecht’s Berliner Ensemble, Drinking Brecht is a live, illustrated essay that explores the past and present of genetics and synthetic biology. A documentary that you can drink, the work ingests worn-out scientific narratives and turns them into a marxist-feminist ritual, and a celebration of science for the people.

Writing and performance - Sister Sylvester
Composition - DM R
Percussion - Ellery Trafford
Lighting - Bruce Steinberg
Dramaturg - Andrew Kircher
Video and lighting associate - Cosette Pin
Audio Technician - Daniel Dominguez
Stage Manager - Marisa Conroy
Production manager - Marin Day

Photos by Jill Steinberg

Previously performed at National Sawdust, 2023 as a work-in-progress part of MAX Festival.

Previous versions of the work in development have been performed at Joe’s Pub, Prelude Festival, UCCS, Bryn Mawr in the USA, and Sibersalz Festival in Germany.