Trackers

This play was awarded an Australian writer’s award (AWGIE) in the Community and Youth theatre category.

A large Cast: 7F, 11M, 15 gender neutral roles. Perfect for a middle school production.

A technological thriller for young people.

First commissioned by St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls, 2020. Review by Stage Whispers. Published by Australian plays transform.

What’s it about?

Trackers is set in the near future where suburbs are divided into Zones and society is under “Algorithmic” control. Algorithms, once man-made, have taken on a creepy life of their own and are dangerously influential. They track and monitor everything, controlling how you look, your diet, hobbies, popularity, the next hit song and even friend selection.

Lately, their sinister intent has ramped up a notch. Algorithms have developed the ability to stimulate brain circuits to fully manage human behaviour. Their aim is to gain absolute control of humankind, and they’re starting with the youth.  

Enter SAM Turing, a naturally gifted coder and a bit of a loner. SAM’s life is thrown into disarray when he unwittingly cracks the Page Rank code on his home computer system, unlocking hidden information about the past. Shortly after, he and his Mum are relocated to C-Zone. Unbeknownst to SAM, C-Zone is the last stop for kids who don’t “align.” They’re the guinea pigs for the new brain circuit adjustment plan. 

To make matters worse, C-Zone High is terrifying! Sinister REGULATORS roam the hallways, MRS WATCHER has it in for him and the other students don’t seem quite right. If SAM is to survive C-Zone, he needs to do more than use his smarts…..SAM needs to make some real friends.