A Number
| A Number | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Caryl Churchill | 
| Characters | Salter Bernard 1 Bernard 2 Michael Black | 
| Date premiered | 23 September 2002 | 
| Place premiered | Royal Court Theatre, London, England | 
| Original language | English | 
| Subject | Human cloning and identity | 
A Number is a 2002 play by British playwright Caryl Churchill. The story, set in the near future, 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 and identity, especially nature versus nurture. Many critics over the years have lauded A Number, arguing Churchill created a work of significant intellectual depth with effective economy of style.