Theatre as a Platform for Addressing Current Issues in Society: A Number, by Caryl Churchill

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Introduction

Over the years, the essence of theatre has not only been to entertain, but to also allow the build up of a culture in a quickly growing uncultured generation. Regardless of the existence of so many other forms of entertainment, theatre has always established a commanding niche in most people’s hearts, and is undoubtedly the most realistic form of entertainment (Bruce 12). The acting bit of theatre performances makes things real and in their immediate contexts, allowing the audience to draw conclusions based on what they see. In a majority of cases, also, the play’s setting is such that there is description of definite subjects without which the play cannot make meaning. The above research takes into account A Number by Caryl Churchill. A great deal of issues and aspects can be learnt from the above play with diverse moral lessons, as well. It has long been proved that expression via acting is more direct than when the audience accesses literature in other means. This direct approach gives a broader meaning to a variety of issues in the play, which were not understood, say in videos. Additionally, the play A Number is full of theatrical ideologies with clear depiction and expression of every event. Theatricality and empowerment set this play different from other plays because of clarity in events’ sequence. The author also strives to express the idea of cloning in society as one main means of families’ downfall. This further comes with what literature calls the ‘fate of tragic heroes’, an indication of what is at stake when a person does things out of the ordinary to please him or herself.

The overall Essence of Theatre

A mere mention of the term theatre acts as a relief to many people. It is in this place that a m...

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Bibliography

Aparna, Bhargava. Theatres of Independence: Drama, Theory, and Urban Performance in India Since 1947. New York: University of Iowa Press, 2009.

Aston, Elaine. The Cambridge Companion to Caryl Churchill. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009.

Bruce, Wilshire. Role Playing and Identity: The Limits of Theatre as Metaphor. Indiana: Indiana University, Folklore Institute, 1991.

Churchill, Caryl. A Number. London: Nick Hern, 2002.

Inchbald, Mrs. The British Theatre: Or, A Collection of Plays. New York: Hurst, Robinson, 1824.

Kritzer, Amelia. The Plays of Caryl Churchill: Theatre of Empowerment. London: Macmillan, 1991.

Melissa, Bell. Empowerment Through Play: The Role of Theatre in Maintaining the Female Voice. New York: ProQuest, 2008.

Somers, John. Drama and Theatre in Education: Contemporary Research. London: Captus Press, 1996.

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