Source Material

'History'

Robert Lawrence Binyon (c. 1925)

It perhaps seems strange to start a piece that draws from the lessons of history with a poem that points out history's weaknesses. 
But we like to be contrary.

Angels in America

Tony Kushner (1992)

'Angels' is one of the most extraordinary pieces of writing for the modern stage. Utterly epic, it not only spans about 8 hours of playing time, but moves between the heavenly and the profane, the real and the mythical and the straight, gay and trans communities of the time. An unexpectedly huge hit both in America and in its original production at The National Theatre, it brought the experience of those living with HIV further out into the open. The story of Roy Cohn and his diagnosis is a true one, leaving him to be shunned by political society, including a young Donald Trump. It really was a social death.

Damaged Goods

Eugene Brieux (1901)

As Kirsten Shepherd Barr explains in her short talk within the Contagion Cabaret, this play - now almost lost to posterity - was a huge and controversial hit in its time - dealing openly with the topic of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. It later became both a novel and, as you see below, a film.

The Last Man

Mary Shelley (1826)

There is great resilience and hope in this extract from Mary Shelley's late novel.

Immunity Passports

Dr Nicola Fawcett, who speaks during the Contagion Cabaret of the strengths and weaknesses of the Immunity Passport idea, has shared some additional resources illustrating the mathematics and the science behind her arguments.  

Find out about the World Health Organisation's stance on ‘immunity passports’ here. An in-depth commentary on immunity passports in medical journal The Lancet. Find two pieces discussing current tests available, and the maths behind why “95% accuracy” can be wrong half the time here and here.