Liz Nicholls reports on a laboratory of fun for Oxford children that aims to fuse art and science

Tomorrow, a pop-up Fun Palace lands in Oxford – one of 130 laboratories of free delights for children across the country.

Oxford Playhouse has teamed up with Science Oxford to turn the Burton Taylor Studio in Beaumont Street into an experimental fusion of the science and theatre from 11am to 3pm.

Free hands-on activities for families with children aged five and up will explore the lighting, sound effects, music and scenery design it takes to bring the magic of theatre to life on stage.

“Our Fun Palace is all about opening our doors and offering hands-on experiences and play experiments” says Mezze Eade, 37, learning and participation programme leader at Oxford Playhouse.

“Maybe you’ve never been to the theatre before, maybe you’ve always wanted to know what goes on behind the scenes – this is about a new audience who can bring their imaginations. The older we get, the more narrow our perspectives sometimes become. To keep the spirit of play alive is really important and children remind us of that, especially in my job.”

Thanks to Brian Mackenwell and the rest of the team at Science Oxford, workshops will feature fun such as the Makey Make machine for creating electronic circuits that connect different fruits so they can be played like musical instruments.

Also tuning into the sound element, an old school Foley radio play needs your sound effects to bring a script to life (coconut shells at the ready).

Light will be explored with two interactive Science of Light Shows given by Brian at 12.15pm and 2.30pm and spectroscopes exploring UV light in all its multicolour glory.

There will also be a set factory zone where youngsters can craft model scenes for their favourite shows out of boxes. Fun Palaces across the country this weekend have been organised to celebrate what would have been the 100th birthday of Joan Littlewood, one of the 20th century’s most significant theatre directors and cultural innovators.

In 1961 Joan and architect Cedric Price conceived the Fun Palace as a ‘laboratory of fun’, ‘a university of the streets’.

As Amber Massie-Blomfield of the Fun Palaces’ organising team explains, the event aims to realise Joan and Cedric’s dream with arts centres, high streets, museums and more all over the UK hosting community events to bring people together in an informal way.

“Many people – especially girls – wouldn’t consider themselves scientists, but this event is about bringing arts and science together and showing how fun it can be.

“Whether it’s chalking out murder scenes, making raisins dance or stepping behind the scenes at the theatre in Oxford, the varied events all come under the umbrella of Joan Littlewood’s motto: ‘Everyone an artist, everyone a scientist’.

Fun Palace takes place tomorrow, 11am to 3pm, at the BT Studio, Oxford Playhouse, Beaumont Street, Oxford. Tickets are free – just drop in.

The age guideline is five years plus (but everyone is welcome)

Visit funpalaces.co.uk

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