Description
Winner of the 2019 ATYP Foundation Commission (10-13 year olds), Soul Trading by Kate Walder values the simple beauty of what it means to be human in a AI-centric society.
SYNOPSIS
The year is 2079. Artificial Intelligence and humans coexist harmoniously. That is, until the appearance of an exceptionally clever AI named Neutron Finch. On the first day of kindergarten, Neutron reads the entire literary works from the history of humanity. This grabs the attention of other AIs at the school, and they start withdrawing from their human buddies.
One night, a group of sixth graders is summoned to the oval. The AIs now know about and want souls. It’s then up to the ‘secret six’ to solve the greatest existential question of all time within a week. Will their soul-searching provide the answers they need to stop the AIs becoming humanity’s worst nightmare?
PRODUCTION HISTORY
Soul Trading was first produced by Canberra Youth Theatre at the Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre Centre, on 5 October 2022. It was the winner of the ATYP Foundation Commission (cast aged 10-13) in 2019.
ISBN: 978 1 922424 47 1