Mark Thompson brings his Spectacular Science Show back to Edinburgh this summer.
“You think science is boring, think again; this is science like you have never seen it before. Designed for children and adults alike, Mark’s Spectacular Science Show explores the strange and magical properties of matter with exploding elephant’s toothpaste, vortex-generating dustbins and even howling jelly babies!”
Where: Auditorium at Gilded Balloon at the Museum
When: to 10 Aug
Ticket link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/mark-thompson-s-spectacular-science-show
Science designed in a way to appeal to children is never easy! What should audiences expect from this show?
Ever since I was a child, I’ve known one thing; the real magic of science hides inside experiments that make your jaw drop.
That’s exactly what this show is about; a fun and thrilling journey of mind blowing experiments, one after another.
Which scientists or sciencepresenters influenced you growing up?
My fascination growing up was with the stars, so Patrick Moore was an obvious inspiration. I had the privilege to meet him on numerous occasions.
I was also rather inspired by Johnny Ball in Think of a Number, explaining mathematics and science in a fun and engaging way.
How did you get your start as a performer? Do you find Fringe festivals inspiring?
This could be a long story, but the shortened version is that it began as a teen when I started giving science lectures at the Norwich Astronomical Society in my home town of Norfolk.
I soon started doing bits and pieces for local TV and radio which led to me getting some work on The One Show. Following all of this, I worked on BBC Stargazing Live and secured my first book deal.
It was then that performing really kicked off for me with a lecture at the Edinburgh Fringe, followed the next year by a very poor attempt of a kids science show called Space Cadets.
Then The Spectacular Science Show was born and I’ve been performing it ever since. That was 10 years ago!
What are you looking forward to the most in Edinburgh?
I love the audience engagement. Theatre shows are great and I love doing them, but somehow a Fringe festival like Edinburgh is more intimate and you get to engage more.
I think with the proliferation of AI in social media, people like to have assurance that what they are seeing is real. That connection with the audience is magical.
Where can we see your show after Fringe?
Like all performers and presenters, I’m on social media as @astronomers_mark but my two websites markthompsonastronomy.com and spectacularscienceshow.com have all the details of current and upcoming projects.