The Theatre of Science at Theatre Royal Plymouth

Enabled by a Society Award from the Wellcome Trust, The Theatre of Science ran at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth from 2004 to 2005. This involved two full productions of the two new stage plays developed during the Imagining the Future week, performed at the Drum Theatre at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.

Schools Programme

A programme of intensive activity based around “Seeing Without Light” and “Still Life” themes, featuring teachers’ inset days, workshops, the development of individual scripts, and sharing of performances at a festival at the Theatre Royal’s new Education and production facility, TR2.  It involved sixteen local schools, 282 students, 31 teachers and 16 separate productions.

Community Partnerships

Jeff Teare led ten two hour workshops with young mothers at the NCH Nomony Centre, leading to four half-day film shoots based around ethical and social issues inherent in genetic pre-selection. 

Tender Realm

A large community and site specific performance, devised in collaboration with the award winning Gecko Theatre company. It involved 2 months of research and recruitment with 120 participants drawn from the community and three scientists from the Peninsula Medical School.  The question: “what are human emotions, what roles do they play in our lives, and what is their purpose?”  Some possible answers (and further questions) were presented to 400 members of the public, over four days, via “Tender Realm 2” an immersive environment/performance staged at TR2. A CD showing extracts of the performance is available.

Sci-Scape

It’s all talk: 330 members of the public joined eight informal discussions, debates and presentations staged in diverse venues including the Theatre Royal, TR2, cafes and health centres.  Led by theatre practitioners, scientists, and artists, the mission was to stimulate curiosity amongst those with limited engagement in science.