Imagine a world in which every child’s future is mapped before their first breath. Their genome is sequenced, their probabilities calculated, their life trajectory quietly predicted. The Valley Children, a theatrical script in development by Felix Westcott, opens within this imagined world and turns the abstract logic of prediction into human drama. The characters wrestle with decisions that no parent, doctor or policymaker has ever had to face, yet which all of us may one day encounter.

Traditional public engagement and bioethical analysis often struggle to capture the complexities of how people actually interpret and live with predictive genomic information. In this workshop we will explore how collaborative practices such as performances, facilitated conversations, and co-designed creative workshops can be used to engage with different communities in a nuanced discussion around predictive genomics. The plot and excerpts from the script will be used as a springboard to discuss how we can use these practices to inform bioethical research, clinical practice and policy development. All are welcome to join and especially those with a research interest in genomics, medical humanities or bioethics.