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A Number

14 Feb – 14 Mar 2020

Overview of the production

How might a son feel to discover that he is only one of a number of identical copies? What happens when a father is confronted by the results of an outrageous genetic experiment?

In Caryl Churchill’s thrilling drama, which won the 2002 Evening Standard Award for Best Play, Roger Allam plays Salter, the father. Colin Morgan plays all his sons. Polly Findlay directs.

“What a tremendous play this is, moving, thought-provoking, and dramatically thrilling.” Daily Telegraph

“Revelatory production from Polly Findlay”

TimeOut ★★★★★

“Colin Morgan is superb”

Financial Times ★★★★

“Phenomenal performance by Roger Allam”

TimeOut ★★★★★

“Beautifully and also brilliantly designed”

The Telegraph ★★★★

General Information

Trigger Warnings

Ticket prices 
£55–£15
Premium tickets available

Performance schedule
Monday–Saturday: 7.30pm
Wednesdays & Saturdays: 2.30pm
Wednesday 19 February: 7pm

Length
Approx 1 hour – no interval

Access Performances 
Audio Described: Wednesday 11 March, 2.30pm
Captioned: Saturday 14 March, 2.30pm

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Additional content

From the programme

'Not Ordinary, Not Safe'

Sos Eltis

Caryl Churchill was the most important female playwright of the twentieth century. That is a simple statement of fact. She may well be the most important and influential playwright (of any gender) of the 21st century – which is a far larger statement…

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Gallery

Roger Allam – Rehearsal photos by Johan Persson
Roger Allam – Rehearsal photos by Johan Persson
View all 9 images
Black and white photo of a man (Colin Morgan) in his 30's. He's sat in a dark leather arm chair. He is wearing a baseball style jacket and has one arm folded across his body, and the other is raised with his finger in his point. His face is stern like he might explaining something.
Black and white photo of a woman (Polly Findlay) in her 30's. She's wearing a black rollneck jumper and smart black trousers. Her legs are crossed and she's leaning on them, holding a script open in one of her hands. She has a blonde bob with a side parting and she's smiling as if she's laughing.
Black and white photo. Colin Morgan is sat in the leather arm chair. He's wearing the baseball style jacket and chino trousers. He's holding a mug and resting it on his lap, he looks still, not giving much away. In the background plastered across the walls are lots of bits of A4 paper with writing on. It looks like a time line of events but we can't see the writing.
Black and white photo. Roger Allam and Colin Morgan face each other. Roger is sat on a cushioned foot rest from a sofa set and is leaning forward resting his elbows on his knees. He's holding a script and has glasses on the end of his nose, and looks over them intently at Colin. Colin is sat on the leather arm chair. He is sat back and looks on edge. In the surrounding room we see what makes up a living room set with a leather sofa behind them and a couple of wooden side tables.
Aerial shot of an open script in a plastic folder. A red pencil lies on top of the script. The top line of the script is highlighted orange but we can't make out all the words clearly. You can see character names like Salter and B1.
Roger Allam sat at a wooden table wearing a black v neck jumper and jeans. He's holding both hands out wide in front of his face as if indicating the size of something. His eyes are wide.
Colin Moran is sitting back in the leather arm chair and wearing the baseball jacket. His hands are entwined together in his lap.
Roger Allam is sat at one end of a rectangular table, one arm is outstretched holding a mug on the table. He's looking up at Polly Findlay who's stood behind the table and looking down at Roger. On the table is scripts, a pair of glasses, a lanyard, and a plastic carrier bag.
Production photos by Johan Persson
Production photos by Johan Persson
View all 5 images
Side on picture of Colin Morgan and Roger Allam sat at two connecting sides of a table, their chairs are pulled round so there's no table between them. Colin, in the polo shirt, is leaning over towards Roger (in shirt and blue knitted cardigan). Their hands are entwined on Roger's lap. Roger looks confused and Colin like he's explaining something.
We see the back wall of a living room, a wooden hearth with various trinkets on top like photos in frames and decorative figures, a CD rack filled with CD's and shelves filled with books and a plant and lampshade. To the right of the scene stands Colin Morgan, this time in a green knitted jumper, unzipped grey hoodie and outdoor jacket on top. He looks agitated.
A drab living room. In low light we see Roger Allam and Colin Morgan sat apart on a leather slouchy black sofa. Roger is slouched back and his lip is curled like he's angry. Colin is sat back with his arms crossed, looking furious. In the dark background there's a doorframe leading out into a hallway, and on the back walls are large framed paintings, one of a tiger.
A living room scene again but in the background we see the window side of the room, it's a large bay window with net curtains covering them, with full curtains hanging either side. It's daylight through the window. In the background out of focus we see Colin Morgan, this time in a red jumper. He's sat on a sofa leaning forward with his palms together at his knees as if concerned. In focus in the foreground is Roger Allam sat on the foot rest. He's wearing a tweed style blazer and is hunched, looking deflated.

Cast

Roger Allam
Salter

Roger Allam
Colin Morgan
B1/B2/Michael

Colin Morgan
Richard Rycroft
Understudy Salter

Richard Rycroft
Jesse Rutherford
Understudy B1/B2/Michael

Jesse Rutherford

Creative Team

Writer

Caryl Churchill
Director

Polly Findlay
Designer

Lizzie Clachan
Composer

Marc Tritschler
Lighting Designer

Peter Mumford
Sound Designer

Carolyn Downing
Assistant Director

Hannah Joss
Associate Lighting Designer

Charlotte Burton
Casting Director

Robert Sterne
Associate Designer

Charlotte Espiner
Costume Supervisor

Johanna Coe
Props Supervisor

Lily Mollgaard