During its inception in 2009, National Theatre Live broadcasted their debut show, Phèdre, starring Helen Mirren in 22 countries, which was seen on 320 screens. The initiative was launched to showcase live British theatre performances in cinemas around the world, and this year, multi-awarding winning play A Disappearing Number made the line-up in the National Theatre Live’s second season.
Although the showing of A Disappearing Number on October 26 in Melbourne’s Cinema Nova was not a live broadcast, the performance was recorded only a couple of weeks prior to the screening on October 14. The show was performed in Plymouth’s Theatre Royal and broadcasted to over 19 countries worldwide simultaneously.
Conceived and directed by Simon McBurney (The Last King of Scotland, The Duchess) who also founded the theatre company, Complicite, A Disappearing Number is a beautiful tale of two love affairs that occur in separate continents and centuries. In the present day, we follow the romance between maths lecturer, Ruth Minnen (Saskia Reeves) and businessman, Al Cooper (Firdous Bamji). The second is set in 1914 in Cambridge and South India, and follows the partnership between the greatest mathematician of the 20th century, Srinivasa Ramanujan (Shane Shambhu) and Cambridge don, GH Hardy (David Annen). The play segues in and out of each storyline, bending time to create a dynamic and thoroughly thrilling production with help from a remarkably malleable set.
Here, mathematics is the link, or the common denominator that ties the two partnerships of different times together. Though it features heavily in the plot, to conclude that A Disappearing Number is simply a dressed-up university lecture on maths would be a fallacy. Instead, mathematics is explored as an art form, as a thing used to uncover the meaning of life, and the pursuit of discovering patterns in the everyday. Deep and elaborately complicated proofs slowly reveal themselves as being simplistic yet mystical notions that heart-warmingly show how we, as humans, are all connected even to those long gone. The simple digits – 0, 1, 2 – the everyday numbers – become a thing of beauty and passion, and any show that can make meditations on mathematics a magical experience (as opposed to an anxiety-inducing practice) has achieved a noteworthy feat.
Rich in allegory, A Disappearing Number is a compelling, engaging and truly unique piece of theatre that tackles what is often perceived to be a banal topic – maths – into a fascinating piece of stage poetry. It is a stunning love story too, poignant with a fateful tragedy that gnaws at the heart. But despite its intensity, the play is also interjected with that quintessential British wit and humour. The score by Nitin Sawhney, which also features a live tambla player, provides the peacefully mesmeric production that extra atmospheric boost.
To find out more about Australian screenings of National Theatre Live productions, visit Sharmill Films: http://www.sharmillfilms.com.au/
For more information on National Theatre Live, visit: http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/45462/home/national-theatre-live-homepage.html
Sounds enthralling!
Now, where’s the Beautiful Mind or Good Will Hunting pun?
You read my mind – was going so going to mention it!
There is A Beautiful Mind/Good Will Hunting feel to it – the whole genius element is so absorbing and that definitely provides much of the captivating factor of A Disappearing Number. However, I would say in this case, maths, unlike the films mentioned, plays more of a character role in the show as opposed to an activity that the characters are engaged in. Of course, the latter occurs as well. A truly fascinating show!