Photograph 51

By
Anna Ziegler

Directed by
David Berthold


06 Jun 2025 –
14 Jun 2025
7:15pm, 1pm | Run time TBA

Photograph 51

About the show

She Found the Code. They Took the Glory.

It’s 1951, and the race is on to unlock the secret of life. At its centre is Rosalind Franklin, a brilliant young scientist whose pioneering work captured the image that would lead to the discovery of DNA’s double helix—transforming science forever. Yet her contribution was nearly forgotten.

Anna Ziegler’s acclaimed, West End-hit play shines a light on an unsung scientist and the fierce ambition, sexism, and sacrifice behind one of the greatest discoveries of the 20th century.

Who gets to write history—and who gets left out?

David Berthold is Artistic Director in Residence at NIDA, where he leads artistic planning and programming. He is one of Australia’s most prominent theatre directors and cultural leaders.

As a theatre director, he has directed for most of Australia’s major theatres companies, as well as in London and Berlin. As an Artistic Director, he has led transformational change at several significant arts organisations. He was Artistic Director of the $22m multidisciplinary international arts festival Brisbane Festival (2015-19) – Queensland’s highest attended event – Artistic Director and CEO of La Boite Theatre Company; Artistic Director and CEO of Griffin Theatre Company; Artistic Director and CEO of Australian Theatre for Young People; and Associate Director of Sydney Theatre Company. He is a member of the Judging Panel of the Sydney Theatre Awards, a Trustee of the Rodney Seaborn Playwrights Award, sits on the Board of Directors of Australian Plays Transform (APT) – the national play development and publication body – and on the Board of Directors of HotHouse Theatre.

In the last few years, he has been a member of the NSW Government’s Theatre and Musical Theatre Arts Advisory Board and chaired the Judging Panel of the Nick Enright Prize for Playwriting (NSW Premier’s Literary Awards). He has also served on many government and industry panels and committees as an advisor, including for the Australia Council, Arts Queensland, Create NSW, Opera Queensland, and the QUT Creative Industries Faculty Advisory Committee.

To be confirmed.

– David Berthold

To be confirmed.

The Company

Rosalind Franklin: Ginger Sansom

Maurice Wilkins: Thomas Russell

Ray Gosling: Jonah Stewart

Don Caspar: Charlie Chandler

James Watson: James Thorn

Francis Crick: Reid Perry


Director: David Berthold

Costume Designer: Alice Vance

Lighting Designer: Ethan Coombes

Set & Props Designer: Ella Wilkinson

Sound Designer: Guinevere Fisher

Video Designer: Hayley Cantrill

Voice Coach: Patrick Klavins

Assistant Director: Liam Wallis

Assistant Director: Emma Johns

Production Stage Manager: Amelie McCarthy

Costume Supervisor: Raphaela Kuhn

Props Supervisor: Connor Newman

Deputy Stage Manager: Eloise Tanti

Head Electrician: Lola Hunt

Video Systems Supervisor: Shevon McCormack-Edwards

Assistant Stage Manager: Coco Tong

Assistant Stage Manager: Lucy van Luyt

Key

*Guest Artist
** NIDA Staff