A new original play developed through international research at the University of Oxford is coming to S&T. 

Written by Taylor Gruenloh, an assistant professor of theatre and film, the production emerged from research conducted at the University of Oxford as part of the Manchester Harris Summer Research Institute, made possible by the Dean’s Office in the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education.

The play, “Race’s End,” explores a dystopian future where technology has been restricted and characters are trying to escape the end of the world. Through a nonlinear structure that blends the present, unreliable memory, and speculative futures, the work examines questions of vulnerability, survival, and what it means to remain human in systems that seek to abstract or control the body.

“This project began as two research questions,” said Gruenloh. “One being, “Why does humanity keep retelling stories about the end of time?” and “Why is it important for audiences to see bodily transformations on film and stage?” Why are we drawn to these things? The time at Oxford allowed me to develop those questions through both scholarly and creative lenses and, while I’m developing articles and book chapters as well, this production is the first big result of that research process.”

The Harris Manchester Summer Research Institute is a program that assembles faculty from around the world and from different disciplines to come together and engage in an intense and stimulating research. During his time there, Gruenloh developed early frameworks for the play’s structure and themes, drawing from texts focusing on performance theory, precarity ethics, and the history of end of world narratives.

“This play demands that you look at what it means to live in this time of history,” said Ricky Heflin, a junior mechanical engineering major. “Even though it’s a science fiction story, it makes you question where you stand.”

Gruenloh hopes that the play reflects Missouri S&T’s broader commitment to integrating the arts within a STEM-focused environment. By bringing research-driven creative work to performance, the project demonstrates how artistic practice contributes to conversations about technology and society.

“It’s been a lot of fun working on a new play,” said Abigail LeBar, a senior engineering management major who is stage managing the production. “It’s been interesting watching how the text has changed over the last couple of months, seeing how Taylor has taken all those big ideas from his research and trying to make it work with the actor’s bodies and how they talk.”

“I’ve never had a rehearsal process quite like this one,” Heflin added about working on such a brand-new play. “Everything ebbs and flows. And getting new pages is kind of like waiting for your favorite show to come out with the next episode, you’re just on the edge of your seat wanting to know what’s next.”

“There’s a lot of stuff going on inside this story,” said Colby Davolt, a senior electrical engineering major. “And we’re using a lot of technology. Projections will be all over the place. The sound design should be very immersive. And, I think there’s talk of creating a storm on stage? I think it’s real neat and fun. The audience could have a wild time with it.”

The world premiere will be performed at Leach Theatre on April 16 – 19. Tickets for “Race’s End” are $10 for the public and $5 Missouri S&T students with a valid S&T ID. The show contains some mature content and is recommended for audiences ages 14 and over.

Tickets can be purchased 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday from the Leach Theatre Box Office, located inside the main entrance to Castleman Hall, facing 10th Street. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.minertix.universitytickets.com or by calling 573-341-4219. Service fees may apply to tickets purchased online.