Question: Your play sounds interesting, can you tell me more about it.

Rowena Fletcher-Wood answered on 20 Mar 2014:

Hi Rory – yes, I can tell you a bit more.

My play is about Lugwig Boltzmann, a scientist from the late 1800s who believed in the existence of atoms when this became “unpopular”. Science has fashions too! He developed a model of the statistical nature of the universe which a lot of people didn’t like because it made the universe seem soulless and inexplicable and a lot of people fought against his work. The play is about how he held on and fought against his critics and believed in his science.

He was also an undiagnosed manic depressent and so he would be really enthusiastic and really depressed. He was also a very charismatic/impressive speaker. He eventually committed suicide just as* Einstein proved the existence of atoms and was actually able to measure them.

I want the play to tell a personal story and also explain some science and history of science. Of course it also raises awareness about mental health, which is still an underaccepted illness.