Preview

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

Photograph 51

By: Anna Ziegler
Narrated by: Anna Chlumsky, Omar Metwally, Benjamin Rosenfield, Stephen Kunken, David Corenswet, Aasif Mandvi
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $7.95

Buy for $7.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

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
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Go Behind the Scenes of Photograph 51

0:00

About the Creator

Anna Ziegler’s plays include the widely produced Photograph 51 (West End, directed by Michael Grandage and starring Nicole Kidman; named the number one play of 2019 by the Chicago Tribune; winner of the WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Play; it will soon be included in Bloomsbury's Modern Classics series), The Last Match (Roundabout; Old Globe; Writers Theatre), The Wanderers (Old Globe and upcoming at The Roundabout) and Actually (Geffen Playhouse; Williamstown; Manhattan Theatre Club; Trafalgar Studios and many more; L.A. Ovation Award winner for Playwriting for an Original Play). Oberon Books has published a collection of her work entitled Anna Ziegler: Plays One. She is developing TV and film projects at HBOMax and Scott Free Productions.

About the Director

A five-time Tony Award winning director and choreographer, her work has been honored with Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Lucille Lortel, and a record five Astaire Awards. She directed and choreographed the Tony Award-winning Best Musicals Contact, and The Producers, winner of a record-making 12 Tony Awards. Broadway credits include The Scottsboro Boys, Show Boat, Bullets Over Broadway, Big Fish, Oklahoma!, Young Frankenstein, Thou Shalt Not, The Music Man, The Frogs, Steel Pier, Prince of Broadway, and Crazy for You. Off-Broadway credits include The Beast in the Jungle, Dot, Flora the Red Menace, And the World Goes ’Round, Happiness, The Last Two People on Earth: An Apocalyptic Vaudeville, and Marie. She directed and choreographed The Merry Widow for the Metropolitan Opera. She directed and choreographed The Producers: The Movie Musical, nominated for four Golden Globes, and received the American Choreography Award for her work in the film Center Stage. She is the recipient of the George Abbott Award for Lifetime Achievement in the American Theater and a member of the Theater Hall of Fame.

Also Featuring

Audible Questionnaire with Anna Chlumsky

0:00

What listeners say about Photograph 51

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    369
  • 4 Stars
    109
  • 3 Stars
    58
  • 2 Stars
    15
  • 1 Stars
    7
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    393
  • 4 Stars
    73
  • 3 Stars
    30
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    3
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    342
  • 4 Stars
    89
  • 3 Stars
    54
  • 2 Stars
    10
  • 1 Stars
    9

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So well done!

The story of the brilliant woman doctor whose skill allowed her to discover the structure of DNA in 1953. A woman PhD at Oxford in the early 1950’s was alone, no other women, surrounded by all male scientists, who couldn’t quite understand why she was there and not married.
This short drama beautifully reveals the misogyny that Roselyn had to struggle against everyday to be taken seriously. No one called her doctor, few acknowledged her when presenting her work.
The end of her story was too soon. She died at 36yo of breast cancer. The developing science of bio genetics lost one of its most brilliant scientists when she died so young. And we have all been deprived the wonders that she could have discovered.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved the story; loved the style

I didn't know anything about Rosalind Franklin and now I can't get enough of learning about her.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The very best listen!!!!

I loved this play! I like to learn about new people in history. Fast moving. I listened to it all in one setting. Thank you for making it free. Please do more like this...

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Unexpected and wonderful

So well done; an important story with outstanding acting. A peek at an area of science that is within many of our lifetimes. And such humanity….

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An Extraordinary Story

This play was both an extraordinary story and a fine performance. I was quite captivated and ultimately, moved.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Creative way to share history

I enjoyed listening to this story and learning about a part of history I never knew existed. The actors were great and it kept my attention.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

worth every minute

this is simply exquisite! (and i learned now how to spell that word just for this)
poetic theater, heart meets head and there's no going back. enjoy :)

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Play

The story is superb. The acting incredible. I loved this listen. I wanted to know more about all the characters after it was done.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant in so many ways

Everything is great about this, from the real life subject on which it was based to the quality of the performance and everything in between and everyone involved.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Theater on Audiobook format?? Yes! It works!

Anna Ziegler’s play actually came to life in this performance. I was quite skeptical about the ability to bring good theater to this format, but Anna Chlumsky’s performance is nothing short of brilliant. I could imagine being in a theater and watching this performance. Marvelous!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!