A Number

by Caryl Churchill

FEBRUARY 2 - 25, 2023

DIRECTOR James Black

WITH Shawn Hamilton Philip Kershaw

PRODUCTION DESIGN Stefan Azizi

SOUND DESIGN Robert Meek

Every parent makes mistakes. But what if you could fix them? Redo the moment? Would you? A psychological thriller that blends scientific speculation with a stunning portrait of the relationship between fathers and sons.

Caryl Churchill’s A Number is a powerful, unpredictable and devastating play that delves into the morality of genetic experiments, the essence of paternal love and the debate of nature versus nature.

Over multiple meetings Salter reconnects with his sons, grappling over the lies and truths of their shared and uncanny past. A Number reveals layers of a complex mystery about individuality and whether it’s really possible to atone for the sins of the past.

How much of a role does your genetic makeup play in defining who you are? What is a bigger influence: nature or nurture? Is there any circumstance in which human cloning might be acceptable?

Keywords:

Science; Psychology; Fathers and Sons; Parenting; Family; Identity; Thriller

“No matter how hard I shouted there was no one there.”