In 1912, scientist Marie Curie spent two months on the British seaside
at the home of Hertha Ayrton, an accomplished mathematician, inventor,
and suffragette. At the time, Curie was in the throes of a scandal in
France over her affair with Paul Langevin, which threatened to
overshadow the accomplishment of her second Nobel Prize.
Performed by Kate Mulgrew and Francesca Faridany at the Minetta Lane
Theatre, this play by Lauren Gunderson is an ode to two remarkable women
who, despite tremendous personal and professional obstacles, continued
to devote their lives to scientific innovation and social change.
Playwright Lauren Gunderson was awarded a commission through the Audible
Emerging Playwrights Fund, an initiative dedicated to developing
innovative original plays driven by language and voice. As an Audible
commissioned playwright, she received funding and creative support to
develop The Half-Life of Marie Curie.
Directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch
Sound design by Darron L. West