{
  "id": 4833475,
  "title": "Theatre is bringing physics to new audiences but what is the definitive science play?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/theatre-is-bringing-physics-to-new-audiences-but-what-is-the",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-01T10:00:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Physics World",
    "slug": "physics-world",
    "url": "https://physicsworld.com/a/theatre-is-bringing-physics-to-new-audiences-but-what-is-the-definitive-science-play/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As audiences left London's Old Vic theatre on a chilly January evening, some patrons engaged in conversation about the physics concepts presented in Tom Stoppard's play Arcadia. One theatergoer expressed interest in better understanding the second law of thermodynamics, while another remarked that the play offered an unusual exploration of the topic. This curiosity about physics in the context of a theatrical performance may have sparked a desire in these audience members to learn more about the subject matter. Arcadia, written in 1993, is an early example of the growing genre of plays that incorporate scientific ideas or scientists as central themes. While the play delves into topics such as Newtonian determinism, chaos theory, and iterated algorithms, it is primarily about more than just physics. The narrative alternates between a 19th-century country house setting and the present day, weaving a literary mystery surrounding the poetry of Byron and academic rivalry. Stoppard's play is both intellectually engaging and entertaining, featuring characters who grapple with traditional dramatic themes like love, jealousy, and ambition. In addition to Arcadia, another major revival of a \"science play\" took place in London this year with Hampstead Theatre's production of Michael Frayn's Copenhagen. This play, first performed at the National Theatre in 1998, imagines a conversation between Werner Heisenberg and Niels Bohr during World War II and explores the implications of their meeting for the development of nuclear weapons. Plays depicting scientists or physics can generally be categorized into three types. Some are biographical representations of individual physicists, such as Lise Meitner or Stephen Hawking. Others focus on the process of conducting scientific research, while a third type uses scientific concepts to structure the entire play. Copenhagen is unique in that it achieves all three of these objectives simultaneously. The depiction of scientists on stage is not a new phenomenon; examples can be traced back to Christopher Marlowe's 16th-century Doctor Faustus, which features a learned character seeking worldly knowledge at a cost. The play Faustus, a 1825 illustration of Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe, is one of the earliest stage shows to feature scientific ideas. In the 19th century, a highly popular adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein was performed in London, introducing the public to the idea of scientists as potentially powerful forces for good or evil. The notion of the \"physics play,\" where physics or physicists feature prominently, can be more readily traced to the 20th century. Bertolt Brecht's A Life of Galileo, written in 1938, is considered one of the first clear examples of a play representing the life and work of a real scientist. First performed in German in Zurich in 1943, the play presents scenes from Galileo's life, including his trial for heresy by the Church for promoting the heliocentric model of the universe. More recent examples include Dava Sobel's 2014 play And the Sun Stood Still, which was produced by the Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company and starred Benjamin Bonenfant as mathematician Georg Rheticus and Jim Hunt as Nicolaus Copernicus.",
  "summary": "Chris Sinclair explores the plays that are bringing physics to new audiences The post Theatre is bringing physics to new audiences but what is the definitive science play? appeared first on Physics World .",
  "key_points": [
    "\"Arcadia\" sparks audience curiosity about physics concepts",
    "\"Copenhagen\" explores scientists' implications for nuclear weapons",
    "Physics plays trace back to 16th-century \"Doctor Faustus\""
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}