‘Henry, Are you awake?’
2401 Objects premiered in Edinburgh in August 2011 where it won a Fringe First award and was short-listed for The Carol Tambor Award for it’s innovative take on the story of Henry Molaison (Patient H.M), the most written-about case-study in neuroscience.
In 1953, Henry Molaison underwent experimental brain surgery to cure severe epilepsy, where his hippocampii was removed, leaving him with severe retrograde and anterograde memory impairment – he lost the last two years of his life, and the ability to form new long-term memories, living the rest of his life eternally in the present.
In 2009, scientists dissected Patient HM’s brain in a procedure that was streamed live on the internet to a global audience of 400,000 people and fundamentally changed our understanding of memory. Henry’s brain now exists in 2401 carefully preserved slices; manuscripts of tissue like the pages of a book.
Drawing upon collaborations with leading neuroscience experts – including the man who dissected HM’s brain, Dr. Jacopo Annese of the Brain Observatory in San Diego – 2401 Objects tells the remarkable story of a man who could no longer remember, but who has proven impossible to forget.
Cast & creative team
Production credits
An Analogue, Oldenburgisches Staatstheater, Germany and New Wolsey Theatre co-production
Developed at Farnham Maltings, National Theatre Studio and Jacksons Lane
Supported by The Wellcome Trust, Royal Holloway University of London, Arts Council England, Escalator East To Edinburgh and British Council Germany.
Creative team
Written by Hannah Barker, Lewis Hetherington and Liam Jarvis
Directed by Liam Jarvis and Hannah Barker
Text by Lewis Hetherington
Original cast: Melody Grove, Pieter Lawman and Sebastien Lawson
Touring cast: Alexandra Maher, Paul Hassall and Simon Yadoo
Designed by Anike Sedello
Lighting Design by Alexander Fleischer
Sound Design by Alexander Garfath
Multimedia Design by Thor Hayton
Produced by Ric Watts
Dramaturgical Support by Jörg Vorhaben
Production Management by Helen Mugridge
Technical Stage Manager - Christopher Marsh-Hilfiker
Assistant Director - Katharina Wisotzki
Made in collaboration with Dr. Jacopo Annese, Director of The Brain Observatory, San Diego,
Reviews
“A short, beautifully-sculpted 55-minute show… an understated and outstandingly gentle piece of theatre” ★★★★ The Scotsman - Hot Show“The most accomplished show yet from Analogue… a cleverly restrained and touching piece of theatre” ★★★★ The Times
“I defy anyone not be drawn into this deeply moving examination of life, death and memory.” ★★★★ The Telegraph
Gallery
Media
Dates
upcoming dates
There are no upcoming dates for this production.
show history
2012
UK and European tour, including visits to Drum Theatre Plymouth, Traverse Theatre, The Lowry, Derby Theatre, Harrogate Theatre, The Brewhouse, The Point, The Dukes and PAZZ Festival, Oldenburg.
2011
4-week run at Pleasance, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, plus preview performances at Oldenburgisches Staatstheater, Jacksons Lane and South Hill Park.
