The Scottish premiere of the 'science-in-theatre' play Oxygen, co-written by award winning scientists Carl Djerrasi and Roald Hoffman, will be performed by University of Glasgow students at Gilmorehill G12 theatre Thur 10th - Sat 12th November.

Oxygen focuses on the drama and contention of science that is often hidden behind academic doors. By skilfully jumping between the 1770s and the present, Oxygen grapples with the ideas of priority and discovery through an attempt to reveal the individual who first discovered oxygen and thus launched the Chemical Revolution.

Prof Carl Djerassi, best known for the first synthesis of the female oral contraceptive, the Pill, will also be in Glasgow Thur 10th Nov. He will give a short talk in Gilmorehill G12 theatre at 7:30pm, before the performance of his play. His talk is titled 'From the Pill to the Theatre', and will explain why a chemistry professor - after decades in the laboratory - would decide to wash dirty lab coats in public, and do it on the stage.

The production of Oxygen, funded by the Scottish Executive and the Royal Society for Chemistry, and the talk by Carl Djerassi, will coincide with the Royal Society of Chemistry's National Chemistry Week.

Tickets can be purchased from the Gilmorehill Box Office, open from Monday to Friday 10am-3pm or 10am-8pm on performance dates. Tickets can also be booked by phoning 0141 330 5522 or emailing boxoffice@gilmorehillg12.co.uk

Kate Richardson (K.richardson@admin.gla.ac.uk)

First published: 8 November 2005