My daughter and I had thoroughly enjoyed a series of science lectures called “Protons for Breakfast” at the Teddington National Physical Laboratory (NPL) a while back and so we were delighted that the Science Museum Live tour was visiting Richmond Theatre.
4pm Sunday and the theatre was bursting with hundreds of happily chattering kids (from three to 13 but with an emphasis on seven to ten year olds) and their mums, dads and grandparents looking mightily pleased to have found something so wholesome and educational with which to entertain their kids.
Black Eye Peas’ “I gotta feeling” as well as JLS and Bruno Mars songs blasted out into the theatre and the stage was set with red neon signs saying light, electrical, nuclear, kinetic, potential, magnetic, heat, sound and chemical.
Immediately we were directed by instructions on a stage screen to start clapping and stamping in time to that Greek classic and the kids obliged enthusiastically. The lights flashed in time. Then a video of Prince Albert took over explaining that the Science Museum had opened in 1857 (that’s 155 years ago) and encouraging us to look under our seats for a golden ticket. The lucky winner was escorted onto stage where he got to press the plunger to set off the chain reaction machine that was just like a real life version of the Mouse Trap game.
The door opened and onto the stage bounced Mark and Mandy – in red tee shirts and jeans. Cool scientists. Funny too. Then a bit of audience banter about whether Isaac Newton really did discover gravity. There was lots of information about mass – and to prove a point a couple of large inflatable beach balls were crowd surfed across the audience. Hoots of happiness from all the small people. Then air canons were used to fire (soft) materials into the audience – the kids were going wild. Then there was a weigh in of Mandy – in Newtons – and comparisons with Earth, the moon and stars were made.
Overall, it was an excellent advertisement for The Science Museum – with frequent video clips of another pair of presenters sneaking through the place after hours – followed by a security guard and an astronaut. The little girl in front of us (aged around four?) was desperate to get up on stage and waved her hand wildly every time they called for a volunteer – I don’t know how her mum managed to contain the disappointment. She seemed mollified when the presenters started igniting bubbles though.
The presenters resorted to more explosions and bangs – this time by igniting different gases. Then there was a large catapult sending a tee shirt into the audience. Back on the screen they were exploring Science Museum exhibits and then we saw fun experiments with a large pendulum on stage. Then we watched a mock fight between Newton and Hook – complete with Kung Fu Fighting soundtrack and a history of their discoveries and work.
Liquid nitrogen time – frozen flowers and a failed experiment too. But the presenters just carried on – calling the interval just a little bit early. We heard the controlled explosion as we sipped our drinks from the bar. Everyone was back in their seats early – eager for more and jiggling along to that catchy music.
Plasma balls and Van der Graaf generators came next with darkened lights and some Native American music and explanations of different types of luminescence. Electricity stories and then videos of previous kids’ invention ideas before some inventions from our audience were read out on stage.
Then static electricity, balloons and dancing with more support from audience members – including a give-it-a-go good natured dad. There were a few grizzles from younger members of the audience as we started to learn about James Watt but the tug of war (girls vs. boys was a common theme) demonstration of the power of friction grabbed their attention back.
Then we learned about Christopher Cockrell and another very lucky member of the audience was picked to pilot a hovercraft. Right at the end the presenters gamely had another go at repeating the earlier failed experiment – and produced a really loud and satisfying final bang to the kids’ obvious delight.
It was a wonderful couple of hours – a sort of lecture, kids’ TV programme and pantomime mash up. If you have the chance to go along, take it, your kids will love you for it.
Next Science Museum Live events near London - Bedford in April and Wimbledon in May:
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visitmuseum/liveontour.aspx
The National Physical Laboratory in Teddington runs “Protons for Breakfast” lectures regularly:
http://www.npl.co.uk/educate-explore/protons-for-breakfast/
Richmond Theatre (note that Spam-a-Lot and Grease are on soon):
http://www.npl.co.uk/educate-explore/protons-for-breakfast/
