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Isaac Newton

A new drama inspired by the words of Sir Isaac Newton and drawing on a major research project at Sussex was premiered this week. 

Let Newton Be! brings the complex and controversial character of science to life. The script is taken entirely from the written words of Newton and his contemporaries - letters, notes, published and unpublished works. 

Its first performance by Menagerie Theatre Company at Trinity College, Cambridge, on Tuesday (20 October), was followed by a discussion led by history of science Professor Rob Iliffe, who is head of the Newton Project at Sussex. 

"Newton is, arguably, the greatest scientist of all time," says Rob, who acted as consultant for playwright Craig Baxter. "He was a physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist and theologian." 

The Newton Project involves bringing together all of Newton's writings - some seven million words in total - and making them available online for anyone to read. 

"It is a major undertaking," says Rob. "We are currently only about half-way through transcribing the manuscripts. What we are aiming to show is the complexity of Newton's scientific work and his religious writings, and finding the connections between them." 

Let Newton Be!, which presents Newton throughout different periods of his life - from curious young scientist, to isolated Cambridge scholar to autocratic head of the Royal Society - was commissioned by the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion to celebrate the Year of Astronomy and the 800th anniversary of Cambridge University. 

The play was performed to four audiences at Cambridge University, with plans for a UK and US tour in 2010.