Produced by One Tenth Human, this was a science-based interactive and participatory piece of theatre designed for children aged 6 - 11. This touring show, lasting just 60 minutes without interval, offers the youngsters the chance to help the two hapless employees of an unknown, unnamed firm to release a talking gas called Hettie from her imprisonment in a large metal machine to roam free.
We gathered in the cafe area to be met by Sonia (Kate Spencer), who greeted us all and took us through to the performance space harassed by another employee, a cleaner with a vacuum cleaner and a chip on his shoulder called Richard (Simon Carroll Jones). As the story enfolded we learnt that Richard's sister was a scientist who had discovered a talking gas and through a mishap, the gas had exploded in her face and 'killed' her. In a fit of pique, Richard captured the gas and imprisoned her for ever in this machine, believing the gas to be murderous and dangerous. Sonia however has learnt otherwise and wanted to help Hettie (the gas) out of her prison and enlisted the help of the young audience to try and find ways of doing so. Eventually Richard understood and reluctantly at first, agreed to help. When however he discovered that his sister. Lauren. is not actually dead at all but has been turned into gas herself and was also trapped within the machine, he was more happy to help.
Using vacuum cleaners, their associated tubing and paraphernalia, and other items such as orange juice, funnels etc; we learn about such things as suction, how and why gas can be turned into liquid and solid forms, and substances and processes such as liquid nitrogen and photo-synthesis are woven into the narrative so that those who already knew about these things could shout them out (as indeed one or two did), and those who hadn't yet learned these things at school were wowed and educated.
Plenty of opportunity was allowed for the children to respond to the many questions posed them, and they also were asked on several occasions to help the actors as they needed people to turn machines on / off, or hold items and pour items into tubes etc. They even managed to rope some adults into the adventure on one instance!
Directed by Daniel Bye, this proved to be a popular and enjoyable hour, and the children loved the participatory elements, which were always done in a very friendly and non-intrusive way. Good use of sound effects (for the voices of both Hettie and Lauren), and simple but effective lighting and special effects worked well - especially the initial 'explosion' and the blackout towards the end.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 23/10/18
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