A
Number
Play Details
A Number
Caryl Churchill
Directed by Catherine Hill
August 10th – September 4th, 2011
Directed by Catherine Hill
Set Design by Nick Casey
Costume/set by Belinda Wiltshire
Sound/music by Abe Pogos
Production manager - Rebecca Etchell
Front of House – Charlotte Strantzen
Stage Management – Sarah Bianco
Cast
Justin Hosking – The sons
Phil Roberts – Salter, the father
The story, set soon, is structured around the conflict between a father (Salter) and his sons (Bernard 1, Bernard 2, and Michael Black) – two of whom are clones of the first one. The play addresses the subject of human cloning, especially nature versus nurture.
Review Samples
"Encompassing three clones… this is the finest performance I’ve seen Justin Hosking give. The actor’s cells are the same, but each role assumes a unique vibration.
Catherine Hill’s direction marshals an incredibly nuanced, emotionally detailed performance that leaves room for unnervingly vague or contradictory elements.
The production sinks its hooks deeply into the skin of everything you thought you know about family – and acting really doesn’t get much better than this.”
Cameron Woodhead The Age, August 14th, 2011
“Direction by Catherine Hill is excellent and Justin Hosking and …Phil Roberts give flawless performances… 5 out of 5.”
Theatre People, August 14th, 2011
“Catherine Hill’s brisk direction serves the elegant craft of the piece well…
Phil Roberts and Justin Hosking skilfully suggest, through their mastery of Churchill’s fractured dialogue, the profound array of connections latent in this work.”
Time Out, August 14th 2011
“Anyone who cares about theatre should make sure they see Winterfall Theatre’s production of A Number by Caryl Churchill. It is a flawless, riveting production.
Catherine Hill’s direction gives forensic attention to detail.
Justin Hosking gives a masterful, stunning performance that I am sure I will never forget…
Phil Roberts is compelling in the role of Salter.
Original music score by Abe Pogos is subtle and perfectly adds to the mood of the play.
Set and lighting design by Belinda Wiltshire and Nick Casey aptly rounded off the perfection of the production itself.”
ABC Radio August 16th, 2011
“Performances by Justin Hosking and Phil Roberts are measured and detailed…
Phil Roberts inhabits his character with a compelling mixture of frailty, emotional distance and moral ambiguity Every tweak of his facial features is calculated to convey a deeper meaning …with every line so perfectly weighted with meaning it almost feels like food for the soul."
Curtain Call/Crikey August 31st, 2011
‘An incredibly nuanced, emotionally detailed performance”
Cameron Woodhead, The Age
“The Caryl Churchill play at Winterfall is also first rate. Yet again, independent theatre made my week.”
Alison Croggon’s Theatre Notes Blog.
Posted by Cameron Woodhead August 15th, 2011
Press
Photo Gallery
Winterfall Theatre 2026 Coming Soon
Join Our Mailing List
Be the first to hear about upcoming productions, season announcements, and performance dates from Winterfall Theatre Company. Subscribe to receive news about our professional independent theatre work in Melbourne, including ticket releases and special updates.