Explosive Science Show ⭐⭐⭐
“The maddest of mad scientists, Magnus Danger Magnus, is back! Chaotic mayhem abounds in this stunningly stylish STEM show with 10 times the spectacle and 20,000 times the voltage of the science classes at school!”
Explosive Science Show is an energetic, colourful and suitably chaotic family show that sets out to prove that science can be just as entertaining as it is educational. And, judging by the reactions of the children around me, Magnus certainly succeeds in keeping his young audience engaged.
The direction is solid and makes good use of the space. I particularly enjoyed the deliberately chaotic look of the production, which fits Magnus’ character perfectly. There is a good sense of movement, and the stage never feels neglected, even during the more dialogue-heavy sections.
Lighting is nice and dynamic, with some lovely states that help keep the production feeling fresh. The lighting complements the show's larger-than-life nature without becoming distracting, and there is enough variation to give each section its own identity. Sound is at a lovely level and nicely balanced. Everything can be heard clearly, which is particularly important when you’re trying to explain scientific concepts to a room full of children who may already be more interested in whatever is about to explode.
The book is good and certainly keeps the children entertained. Magnus has plenty of opportunities to interact with his young audience, and the explanations are accessible without becoming overly complicated. However, I did find myself wanting more science. There are only around three or four experiments throughout the show, and for something called Explosive Science Show, I expected slightly more explosions, experiments, and general scientific mayhem.
Instead, there is quite a lot of talking between them. Some explanation is necessary, particularly in a STEM show, but the balance could be shifted slightly. Give us the science, explain why it works, and then (ideally) make something spectacular happen.
Performance by Magnus Danger: Magnus is charismatic and energetic. He has a natural ability to command the attention of a young audience and, importantly, knows how to involve them rather than simply performing at them. His larger-than-life persona works perfectly for this material, and he has a lovely understanding of how to communicate with children. He keeps them answering questions, reacting to the experiments and remaining involved throughout.
Genuine enthusiasm for science shines through the madness, and it comes across clearly.
Explosive Science Show is a fun and accessible introduction to STEM that proves science doesn’t have to mean sitting quietly in a classroom copying notes from a whiteboard. The production looks great, the lighting and sound work well, and Magnus Danger Magnus is an engaging host who knows exactly how to entertain his young audience. I just wanted more science.
Explosive Science Show plays at the Piccolo Tent at Assembly George Square Gardens until the 31st August at 10 am and has an approximate run time of 60 minutes.
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