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Duane Kelly is an award-winning author of eleven full-length plays. His plays often delve into end-of-life themes. The two most recent productions were a premiere of Abacus in Seattle in September 2024 and the play Patrimony in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in October 2024. Abacus tells the story of a synthetic human replicant who experiences unexpected concerns as she cares for a man who suffers the indignities of old age and cognitive decline.

His plays, which often delve into end-of-life themes, were produced at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2022 and 2023. Duane is also writing a history book about the American West titled Journeys to Zion.

In this conversation, Duane discusses his experiences with death and how it has influenced his work. He shares personal stories of loss and reflects on the impact of mortality on storytelling. The discussion also delves into his recent plays, the intersection of artificial intelligence and humanity, and the importance of empathy in understanding our shared fate. Duane emphasizes the need to create meaningful art and the moral obligation to make the most of our time on earth.

Links:
Duane's Website
The Search for Wandla
Terror Management - Ernest Becker
The Monk and the Robot series
Klara and the Sun byKazuo Ishiguro
Dover Beach By Matthew Arnold
Thanatopsis By William Cullen Bryant

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And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.