A NUMBER

by Caryl Churchill

September 25-27, October 1-4, October 8-11
Wednesdays - Saturdays at 7pm
Sundays at 3pm

A beguiling hour-long psychological thriller that blends topical scientific speculation with a stunning portrait of the relationship between fathers and their sons. The story, set in the near future, is structured around the conflict between a father and his three sons–two of whom are clones of the first. The play addresses the subject of human cloning and identity, especially nature versus nurture and, ahead of its time, glimpses at life in AI. With all three sons portrayed by the same actor, the play’s inquiry about the uniqueness of an individual’s identity is dramatically rendered. Many critics over the years have lauded A Number, arguing Churchill created a work of significant intellectual depth with a potent economy of style.

"Rarely in my theatre going experience has a new play conveyed such a disturbing or enthralling impression of domestic weirdness.... An astonishing event.'' - Evening Standard

“Magnificent.... Contains more drama, and more ideas, than most manage in a dozen full-length works.... It combines elegant structural simplicity with an astonishing intellectual and emotional depth.... What a tremendous play this is, moving, thought-provoking and dramatically thrilling.'' – Daily Telegraph

"Churchill's power to grip an audience is an extraordinary thing. Her plays perform a pincer-movement on your attention. Their ear for a subject of real concern ... has always been acute, and often prescient.'' – The Observer

CARYL CHURCHILL was born on 3 September 1938 in London and grew up in the Lake District and in Montreal. She was educated at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. Downstairs, her first play written while she was still at university, was first staged in 1958 and won an award at the Sunday Times National Union of Students Drama Festival.

Caryl Churchill’s plays include: Owners, Traps, Light Shining in Buckinghamshire, Cloud 9, Top Girls, Fen, Serious Money, Ice Cream, Mad Forest, The Skriker, Blue Heart, This is a Chair, Far Away, A Number, Drunk Enough To Say I Love You?, Seven Jewish Children, Love & Information, Here We Go and Escaped Alone. Music theatre includes Lives of the Great Poisoners and Hotel, both with Orlando Gough. Caryl has also written for radio and television.