"Breaking the Code" - by Hugh Whitemore - Central Square Theater (Cambridge, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: Eddie Shields as "Alan Turing" with David Bryan Jackson as "Dillwyn Knox" in a scene from Hugh Whitemore's "BREAKING THE CODE," now playing at Central Square Theater in Cambridge, MA. until April 26, 2026. Photo Credit Nile Scott Studios)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“I live very simply. Possessions, per se, mean very little to me."
- ("Alan Turing") / Hugh Whitemore
Central Square Theater
Presents Hugh Whitemore's
"BREAKING THE CODE"
Written by Hugh Whitemore
Directed by Scott Edmiston
Cast Includes: Eddie Shields* as "Alan Turing", David Bryan Jackson* as "Dillwyn Knox/John Smith," Dom Carter* as "Mick Ross," Matthew Beagan as "Christopher Morcom/Ron Miller/Nikos," Josephine Moshiri Elwood* as "Patricia 'Pat' Green," Paula Plum* as "Sara Turing." Understudy: Lee Mikeska Gardner.*
A Catalyst Collaborative@MIT Production
Performances:
April 2, 2026 through April 26, 2026
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
CENTRAL SQUARE THEATER, 450 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA. 02139
TICKETS:
# 617-576-9278
https://www.centralsquaretheater.org/shows-events/season-tickets/
BUY TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
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Bursting into spring, Central Square Theater, in a Catalyst Collaborative@MIT Production, presents a viscerally stunning "BREAKING THE CODE" which is both a fascinating and entertaining look at a complex genius.
Written in 1986 by British playwright Hugh Whitemore, "BREAKING THE CODE" centers on British mathematician Alan Turing (Eddie Shields), a pioneer of computer science who would become a key player in breaking the German “Enigma” code at Bletchley Park during World War II.
Bletchley Park was the top-secret central site for Allied codebreaking, known as “Station X,” where British intelligence cracked high-level German, Italian and Japanese communications.
Whitemore’s marvelously constructed play, based on the 1983 biography “Alan Turing: The Enigma” by Andrew Hodges, cleverly bonds Turing’s cryptographic activities with his own attempts to keep clandestine his homosexuality.
(Photo: Eddie Shields as "Alan Turing" with David Bryan Jackson as "Dillwyn Knox" in a scene from Hugh Whitemore's "BREAKING THE CODE," now playing at Central Square Theater in Cambridge, MA. until April 26, 2026. Photo Credit Nile Scott Studios)
The two-act play quickly shows us a portrait of an uncompromising genius who lived in an era that could not accept Turing’s preferred sexuality and thus ultimately (spoiler alert) proved fatal.
And yet, while he was alive, as "BREAKING THE CODE" also illustrates, Turing was responsible for the application of theories in which he describes - both in admiration and with caution - the evolution of digital technology and even foresaw the emergence of what we currently refer to as “A.I.” (artificial intelligence).
After a limited 1986 run in London's West End, "BREAKING THE CODE" transferred to Broadway where it ran from November 1987 to April 1988, subsequently nominated for three Tony Awards and two Drama Desk Awards.
The play would also be adapted into a highly acclaimed 1996 BBC television film. Now Central Square Theater presents a stirring production very cleverly staged by director Scott Edmiston featuring an outstanding cast.
(Photo: Eddie Shields as "Alan Turing" with Josephine Moshiri Elwood as "Patricia 'Pat' Green" in a scene from Hugh Whitemore's "BREAKING THE CODE," now playing at Central Square Theater in Cambridge, MA. until April 26, 2026. Photo Credit Nile Scott Studios)
As "BREAKING THE CODE" unfolds, we are propelled back and forth in time.
We begin at the point in which Turing’s life reaches a critical turning point, beginning with a burglary upon his place, which he reports to the police which begins an investigation conducted by British police detective Mick Ross (Dom Carter), who turns out to be very good at his job, which proves unfortunate for Turing.
Quickly, Ross soon uncovers more about Turing than who robbed him.
We also jump back in time to Turing's earlier days, first in school and then at work.
Matthew Beagan impresses in a diverse performance as Christopher Morcom, Turing’s childhood friend, also playing Ron Miller, a young man having an affair with Turing and Nikos, another man with which Turing encounters.
(Photo: Dom Carter as detective "Mick Ross," Eddie Shields as "Alan Turing" and Matthew Beagan as "Ron Miller" in a scene from Hugh Whitemore's "BREAKING THE CODE," now playing at Central Square Theater in Cambridge, MA. until April 26, 2026. Photo Credit Nile Scott Studios)
As we learn more about Morcom, we are also introduced to Sara Turing (in an optimistic performance by Paula Plum), Alan’s mother, who seemingly never understood some of the concepts conveyed to her by her son, be they mathematical, scientific…or emotional.
Some of the above concepts are delivered by Shields in long discourses of fascinating mathematical and computing exposition uttered with pristine precision.
At a vitally important job interview, Turing meets Dillwyn Knox (as portrayed in an exceptional performance by David Bryan Jackson, who also plays John Smith), cryptographer and manager at Bletchley Park and interested in recruiting Turing for government service.
Also at Bletchley is Patricia "Pat" Green (Josephine Moshiri Elwood), a co-worker of Turing’s who is quite fond of Turing, both professionally and personally, as marvelously conveyed in the approach taken by Elwood.
(Photo: Eddie Shields as "Alan Turing" with David Bryan Jackson as "Dillwyn Knox" in a scene from Hugh Whitemore's "BREAKING THE CODE," now playing at Central Square Theater in Cambridge, MA. until April 26, 2026. Photo Credit Nile Scott Studios)
In Central Square Theater's "BREAKING THE CODE" Turing’s life, as recalled in an intense yet sensitive performance by Eddie Shields, is reflective and predictably tragic, given that Turing was a convicted criminal for engaging in the then-“criminal act” of loving men.
What is more tragic is that many of Turing’s theories had not yet been fully realized during the time of his incarceration, as human beings, for Turing, proved to be far less easy to comprehend than his concepts mathematical, scientific…and emotional.
(Photo: Eddie Shields stars as "Alan Turing" in Hugh Whitemore's "BREAKING THE CODE," now playing at Central Square Theater in Cambridge, MA. until April 26, 2026. Photo Credit Nile Scott Studios)
Hugh Whitemore's "BREAKING THE CODE" continues at Central Square Theater in Cambridge, MA. until April 26th, 2026 and your chances of enjoying this one are a mathematical certainty.
Coming up next for CST will be "THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP - A PENNY DREADFUL" by Charles Ludlam beginning May 28th and running through June 21st, 2026.
For tickets and more information contact Central Square Theater at # 617-576-9278 or visit www.centralsquaretheater.org
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Approximately two hours, 30 minutes with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
Alan Turing was hailed by Winston Churchill as having made the single biggest contribution to Allied victory in the war against Nazi Germany for breaking the Enigma code.
By 1952 the eccentric British mathematician’s security clearance was revoked and he was barred from British intelligence work after being convicted for “gross indecency” - homosexual acts.
"BREAKING THE CODE" is Turing’s pioneering story of scientific achievement - the father of the computer and artificial intelligence.
Eddie Shields ("Angels in America") is Turing in a new production helmed by Elliot Norton winner Scott Edmiston ("Constellations").
ABOUT CENTRAL SQUARE THEATER
CENTRAL SQUARE THEATER (CST) is dedicated to the exploration of social justice, science and sexual politics through theater; catalyzing the dynamic synergies sparked by the collaboration between The Nora and Underground Railway. Through award-winning productions, the Catalyst Collaborative@ MIT Science Theater Initiative, and youth development programming – CST creates theater where points of view are heard, perspective shifts, and change can happen.
450 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA. 02139
# 617-576-9278
