My friend and colleague Julie Clayton received an email about the opening of a Nature-inspired play in Baton Rouge, Lousiana. The email, from Vince LiCata of the Department of Biological Sciences at Louisiana State University, explains that Julie’s News Feature “Out of Thailand, into Africa” (Nature 430, 136-137; 2004) was one of the inspirations for a play about the life and work of Krisana Kraisintu that he has written with Ping Chong.

Cocktail is the story of the achievements of Thai pharmaceutical scientist Dr Kraisintu in establishing the manufacture of affordable HIV treatments in Thailand and sub-Saharan Africa, as described in Julie’s Nature News Feature. Dr Kraisintu developed the first triple-drug-single-pill tablets for treatment of HIV (now called fixed-drug combinations or FDCs). She also was the first to introduce such improvements as flavoured tablets for children. Cocktail depicts “the arc of her struggle against the multiple forces, both political and financial, that she eventually overcame.”

The authors think that this is the first ever professionally produced play co-authored by a scientist and a theatre artist. The play is now in rehearsal and will open at Swine Palace Theater in Baton Rouge on 20 April and will run till May 6.

Dr Kraisintu plans to see the play during the second week of its run. She will be a “Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecturer” and will give talks on her work. For more information, please contact Dr LiCata or see the theatre’s website.