Manchester-based collaborative Red Brick Theatre's latest is a rare production of Caryl Churchill's A Number, the award-winning mediation on human cloning and the nature v nurture debate. It's at Manchester's 53two venue from May 22-24.
Bernard thought he was an only child but one day learns he is just one of several clones. He and his father confront epic questions and family dishonesty to uncover a shocking reality.
Red Brick Theatre was founded in 2021 by Matilda Philipson and award-winning director Oliver Hurst. Their recent work includes Pornography by Simon Stephens, Sour Milk by Jonathan Mitchell and BRICKS - Six Short New Plays, at 53two.Â
The Evening Standard award-winning A Number will be directed by Jess Gough, who said: "The play is just as relevant now as it was in 2001. Every day we curate in detail who we are and what we show the world, so naturally we begin to question identity and what intrinsically makes us who we are.
"A Number explores these themes under radical circumstances. What strikes me is how other-worldly but also chillingly realistic the plot feels; you can’t help question the real world capabilities."
The cast includes Joe Simpson (Happy Valley, Coronation Street, Blindspot) and Tom Ryder (The Bay; The Tremors; Pool (No Water), Royal Court).
Red Brick Theatre artistic director, Oliver Hurst, said: "It's great to be bringing Caryl Churchill's work to Manchester. She's one of the country's greatest playwrights but criminally under-programmed in Manchester, I find it incredibly hard to believe that so little of her work has been produced here. We've got a stellar cast, and Jess is a really ambitious and exciting captain to be steering the ship."Â
More info and tickets here