A Number is an original work published in 2002 in association
with the Royal Court Theatre of London. It addresses the subject of human
cloning and identity, in particular nature versus nurture; as the play was
written during a time of public debate over the ethics of cloning. The cloning
of Dolly the sheep, the creation of human embryos at Advanced Cell Technology,
and the cloning of a kitten gave rise to controversy concerning possible human
cloning.
The play debuted at the Royal Court Theatre in
London on 23 September 2002. The production was directed by Stephen Daldry and
designed by Ian MacNeil and featured Michael Gambon as Salter and Daniel Craig
as his sons. Lighting was designed by Rick Fisher and Ian Dickinson was the
sound designer. The play won the 2002 Evening Standard Award for Best Play.
A Number received its American premiere at New York Theatre
Workshop in December 2004, directed by James Macdonald, with Sam Shepard as
Salter and Dallas Roberts as his sons.
It was revived in the UK at the Sheffield Crucible in October 2006,
directed by Jonathan Munby and starring real-life father and son, Timothy and
Samuel West. This production later played at The Menier Chocolate Factory,
London, in 2010 and at the Fugard Theatre, Cape Town in 2011.
A television movie adaptation by the BBC and HBO Films starring Tom
Wilkinson and Rhys Ifans was first broadcast in September 2008.
Rough notes-
- Known for dramatising the abuses of power, for her use of non-naturalistic techniques, and for her exploration of sexual politics and feminist themes.
- Her early work developed Bertolt Brecht's modernist dramatic and theatrical techniques thereof
- Agenda is ALWAYS social and political issues.
- Wants the audience to come away from a play questioning and discussing its themes.
- Frustration due to lack of punctuation, fragmented sentences, enjambement
- Chose to ensure the audience hate the characters to alienate them, and ensure there is no connection to them
• Published in 2002 (association with Royal Court Theatre of London)
ReplyDelete• Conservative government (1990-97)
• Labour government (1997 onwards)
• Ethics of cloning, DOLLY THE SHEEP
• Twin studies
• Nature vs nurture
• Controversy concerning human cloning
• Churchill addressed social and political issues: snowballing effect (where is the line to stop)
• Problematically explains the world of science
• Explores harsh realities of the modern family unit: refers to parenting techniques, mono-parental families
• Human nature: progressive yet unwilling to change (know how to and are able to make change but choose not to)
• Human desire for perfection and happiness and the devastating consequences this mind-set has
• Things are considered more ‘disposable’, i.e. divorce, relationships, objects
• Has our society progressed?
• Morality and ethics!!!!!!!!!!
CARYL CHURCHILL:
- Born 3 September 1938 (age 78 years), London
- Known for dramatising the abuses of power, for her use of non-naturalistic techniques, and for her exploration of sexual politics and feminist themes.
- Her early work developed Bertolt Brecht's modernist dramatic and theatrical techniques of Epic theatre to explore issues of gender and sexuality.
- Her mother was fashion model (subject to objectification and feminity, ergo feminism).
- Her father was a political cartoonist (self-explanatory).
- Her Work: Top Girls, A Number, Far Away, This is a Chair, Love and Information
- Agenda is ALWAYS social and political issues.
- Wants the audience to come away from a play questioning and discussing its themes.
- Frustration due to lack of punctuation, fragmented sentences, enjambement
- Chose to ensure the audience hate the characters to alienate them, and ensure there is no connection to them
Brechtian techniques that could be used in A Number: multi-rolling, direct address, alienation, minimal lighting, all props on stage, all actors on stage, gestus, music, narration, placards, dance.
CONTEXT OPENING:
A Number, written by Caryl Churchill, was first published in 2002, at a time when the ethics of cloning was challenged following the cloning of Dolly the Sheep. This led to controversy over the possibility of human cloning.
The play debuted at the Royal Court Theatre in London on 23 September 2002. The production was directed by Stephen Daldry and designed by Ian MacNeil and featured Michael Gambon as Salter and Daniel Craig as his sons. Lighting was designed by Rick Fisher and Ian Dickinson was the sound designer. The play won the 2002 Evening Standard Award for Best Play. There is even a television movie adaptation by the BBC and HBO Films starring Tom Wilkinson and Rhys Ifans which was first broadcast in September 2008.