National Theatre Celebrates British Science Week with STEM-Themed Events

The National Theatre is taking part in British Science Week (10-19 March) to host a series of events highlighting the science in theatre.

The creative industries depend on STEM as well as arts subjects, and theatre is an inspiring showcase to demonstrate the creative application of science, maths and technology through the arts. Lighting and sound design, engineering and automation are just a few examples of how theatre uses science to stage shows every day of the week - with more than 350 technical and production staff employed at the NT creating 30 world-class productions on stage each year.

The NT will introduce children and young people to the different technical disciplines involved in theatre-making and demonstrate how the science they learn in school can be applied to create theatrical magic.

The National Theatre's Partner for Learning is Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Alex Wilmot-Sitwell, president, EMEA at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, said: 'I am extremely supportive of organisations that develop programmes which give young people the knowledge, the skills and the inspiration they need to succeed. As the National Theatre's Partner for Learning, we are able to combine the arts, together with STEM subjects, to ensure that creativity and vision help to develop our future workforce'.

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Science On Stage, a British Science Week Event for students in years 6, 7 & 8

Wednesday 15 March, 1 - 2.30pm

Have you ever wondered how a stage revolves? Or how a lighting designer makes it look like daylight on stage? How does a sound engineer ensure that the audience at the back of a huge theatre can hear the main character whisper? And how does the NT's flying system lift an object the size and weight of a London bus?

Science broadcaster Emily Grossman will present this fun and fact-packed investigation of how theatre works. Joining her on stage for a series of demonstrations will be technicians, engineers and artists from across the National Theatre.

Cost per class (maximum of 32 children): £100 (maintained schools) / £200 (independent schools)

Over the past three years the John Lyons Charity who 'seek to promote the life-chances of children and young people through education and the arts' have been helping the NT deliver a programme for secondary schools by offering grants to benefit children and young people who live in nine boroughs in northwest London - Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Kensington & Chelsea and the Cities of London and Westminster. Free places to these schools are being offered for 'Science on Stage'

Devising from Science

Saturday 18 March, 11am - 5pm

A devising workshop led by Jack Lowe, Artistic Director of Curious Directive (an ensemble of theatre makers who explore life through the findings of science).

For young people aged 16 - 21 years

£10 (bursaries are available)

nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/16-21-devising-science

British Science Week events for adults include:

In Context - How Do We Remember?

Thursday 16 March, 2-5pm

Exploring the process, role and function of memory in everyday life.

With Professor Martin Conway (City University London)

This event is linked to the NT production of Lost Without Words

nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/lost-without-words

New Rehabilitation Therapies and Virtual Pain Management

Wednesday 29 March, 6pm

A VR "veteran" of 30 years, Prof Bob Stone is the director of the University of Birmingham's Human Interface Technology (HIT) Team, a small group of researchers who have been pioneering the human-centred evaluation and real-world adoption of VR technologies. Bob will be joined in conversation with Charlotte Small, whose research with the HIT Team in Restorative Environments for Rehabilitation includes interactive technologies for enhanced rehabilitation of military and civilian patients following major trauma and critical illness.

This event is linked to the NT production Ugly Lies the Bone

nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/ugly-lies-bone

Also available to schools:

Technical Make Theatre Days - a visit to an auditorium and the backstage walkway followed by a technical workshop introducing aspects of lighting and sound with practical demonstrations. The children then take on the role of a lighting or sound designer working to a brief and creating their own designs. (For KS2 and KS3)

STEM Backstage Tours - focusing on how science, technology, engineering and maths are applied in a theatre context. (For KS3 - 5)

Creative Choices - a careers event offering a taster of backstage and offstage technical roles in theatre production. (Three times per year for KS3 and KS4)

Technical Masterclasses - interactive lecture/demonstrations for students on technical theatre and production courses. (Throughout the year for KS5 students)

Design Challenge - a design challenge linked to the tour of Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time for students on technical theatre and production courses.

For more information, visit nationaltheatre.org.uk/primary, go to nationaltheatre.org.uk/schools/secondary-and-fe or follow this link: curiousonstage.com/learning/design.

Throughout the year there are a range of one off workshops and short courses focussing on technical aspects of theatre-making for young people aged 16 - 21 including 'How to be a Stage Manager' and 'Video Design in Theatre'. Go to nationaltheatre.org.uk/young-people for more.

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The National Theatre is dedicated to making the very best theatre and sharing it with as many people as possible. We produce productions on the South Bank in London each year, ranging from reimagined classics to modern masterpieces and new work by contemporary writers and theatre-makers. The National's work is seen on tour throughout the UK, in London's West End, internationally (including on Broadway) and in collaborations and co-productions with theatres across the country.

Across 2015-2016, the NT staged 34 productions and gave 3,134 performances in the UK and internationally. The NT's award-winning programme had a UK audience of 2.5 million, 700,000 of which were NT Live audiences.

The NT is committed to providing programmes for schools, young people, families, community groups and adult learners, both in the Clore Learning Centre at the NT and nationally through programmes such as Connections, the NT's youth theatre festival, and New Views the NT's playwriting programme and competition for schools. In 2015 - 2016, we engaged with over 181,000 participants through the NT Learning programme. Visit nationaltheatre.org.uk for more information.

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