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Photograph 51

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About this listen

In 1951, chemist Rosalind Franklin (Anna Chlumsky) works relentlessly in her King’s College London lab, closing in on a major discovery that could unlock the mysteries of the DNA molecule. Undermined by her colleague Maurice Wilkins (Omar Metwally), she struggles to compete with rival team Watson and Crick (David Corenswet and Aasif Mandvi) as pressure intensifies to produce results.

Following a critically acclaimed run in London, Anna Ziegler’s play is brought to life in a new production directed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman, honoring the monumental contribution of one scientist with two X chromosomes whom history nearly left behind.

©2020 Anna Ziegler (P)2020 AO Media LLC Drama & Plays United States World Literature Photography Composition
All stars
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Fabulous collaboration with Williamstown Theatre Festival. Interesting exploration of early DNA research unearthing an ignored female scientist. Highly recommended. Super performances by all and a terrific play.

Best Audible Production to Date

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I loved Rosalind a brilliant character. This is a peek into the minds of ground breaking scientists. A heartbreaking love story that never was

Fascinating

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Intriguing history, an innovative structure and compelling performances. This made for an entertaining change from listening to novels and I felt like I'd learned something whilst being entertained.

Definitely worth your time

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This is an Audible Original recording of the two hour play performed at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, with various actors including Anna Chiumsky as Rosalind Franklin.
Franklin died, aged only 37, from ovarian cancer. Her brilliantly innovative photography was central to the modelling of the double helix, deciphering the structure of DNA, in the mid twentieth century. Yet she received no recognition for this when the Nobel prize were handed out - she was, after all, just a woman.

I confess I knew nothing about Franklin before this play - a huge indictment in itself - so I cannot tell if the events portrayed are accurate. She seemed to be a character consumed, uneasy with others, a difficult woman to like but who, through her dedication to her work, enabled colleagues to discover the secret of life. The actors were good, voices distinctive. I feel now that I would like to learn more about Rosalind Franklin.

Available to download for free on the Audible Plus programme.

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Rosalind Franklin is a great figure in the scientific world, but how many people know her story? How many children are taught about her in school ? Sadly, very few. I knew of her and the controversy regarding the Nobel Prize but I knew nothing of her personal life before.
What I’m really stood out to me was the competition rather than collaboration in cutting-edge scientific discovery . In an ideal world collaboration would get us further forward more quickly even though I realise an element of competition can sometimes be a good thing.
This is a short story/play, and when I highly recommend.


Women in science in 1950s

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