Science as theatre, and knife-throwing

Award-winning performer David Klein presents his portable, pop-up, science storytelling show at the Dome.

People might be torn between the two top acts from two very different codes on the same night next week — which is possibly closer to the spirit of a UK couple’s knife-throwing, sword-swallowing, magic and daredevil juggling show Death Do Us Part danger show at Smash Palace.

Charlie and Rachel Atlas are described as a muscle-man and blonde bombshell duo who push boundaries in modern vaudeville as they bring the kind of old-fashioned knife-throwing act previously seen in a circus of yesteryear but with more tattoos, attitude and bare skin.

Described as a fusion of traditional circus, sideshow, burlesque and magic, the comedy cabaret show also features Australia’s most dangerous burlesque darling, Jacqueline Furey, aka the Human Heatwave and Swedish juggler and circus superstar David Eriksson.

Science storytelling show an effervescent learning adventureAcross town, at the Dome, 19th century audience’s fascination with theatrical presentations of scientific phenomena and discoveries will be invoked with award-winning performer David Klein’s portable, pop-up, science storytelling show.

Brought here by bicycle — albeit, no ordinary bicycle but a cargo bike — Klein’s part theatre, part pop-learning Tour de Science show can be self-contained, and pedal-powered. Described as an effervescent learning adventure, Klein’s show shares his journey of discovery from childhood to adulthood as atoms, cells, evolution, the solar system, stars and beyond are pieced together.

“From school to school, it’s the story of all the amazing facts I’ve learned, and how through lots of little steps, we can get our heads around the biggest ideas,” he says.

Tour de Science is a “tweaked and enhanced” version of Toward a Better Understanding of the Universe, which won Klein the award for Best Newcomer at the 2015 New Zealand Fringe Festival. Aimed at a general adult audience, the aim of Tour de Science is to deliver a jolt of inspiration to learn more about the world — “like the coolest TED talk ever.”