A Disappearing Number @ The Barbican Theatre, October 10

Jul 15 2008 By Christian McLaughlin

Apologies for beginning to sound like a Barbican PR agent, but the cultural juggernaut has done it again.

The first time I saw A Disappearing Number, last September at the Barbican, it left me stumbling out of the theatre, failing to hold in the tears.

Not that crying is necessarily a good thing.

But when your tears are those of wonder at the beauty of the world, it most certainly is.

Far-out mathematics and the interconnectivity of the universe is the foundation of the Complicite theatre group's play.

It may sound as cold as calculus, yet artistic director Simon McBurney packs a hefty emotional punch by interveaving the mathematician's story with that of a modern university lecturer, Ruth, and her American-Asian partner, Al.

One of the best theatre shows I saw in 2007, I can't wait to go back for more.

A Disappearing Number, by Complicite, is at the Barbican Theatre from Friday, Oct 10 - Nov 1. s12-40. Mon-Sat 7.45pm, 2.30pm on 18, 25 and 30 October, and 1 November. Captioned performance: Saturday 25 October, 2.30pm. Call 0845 120 7550. See www.barbican.org.uk/bite