What is Theatrescience?

Theatrescience productions engage new audiences with scientific thinking and bring informed scientific debate into theatrical spaces, as well as encouraging scientists to develop their skills in communicating with those outside their own fields.

Discussion and interaction between scientists, artists, and the public is fundamental to our artistic development process. Our projects involve workshops, debates, and mutual feedback between all involved. As well as providing initial stimulus and debate, scientists attend rehearsals and workshops and provide feedback on the work as it develops, to ensure that all the work we produce is scientifically accurate.

This innovative process results in high-quality new theatrical productions based around biomedical science.

Post-show discussions, which enable audiences to question both scientists and theatre practitioners directly, are also integral to the way we work. These inspire audiences to start exploring science for themselves, as well as encouraging participants and scientists to reflect upon their own work.

To ensure that we achieve our aims, all of our work has been independently evaluated. It has been proven to be successful at engaging participants and audiences with biomedical science issues.

Evaluation reports, as well as documentation of productions, discussions, and workshops, are available on our website.

We are always interested in hearing from new potential collaborators and in forming new and inspirational new partnerships.

The Team

Jeff Teare, Co-Director

Jeff has over 35 years of major theatre credits to his name, ranging from Associate Directorships with The Young Vic and the Theatre Royal Stratford East (1986-95) in London through to a wide variety of productions throughout the UK, from puppet shows for the under fives to Shakespeare and Chekov. He is a past chair of the British Equity Directors Committee and an advisor to ACGB and London Arts. He has been involved with over 150 school science/drama projects and many workshops, readings and professional productions with Theatrescience. Jeff also writes for the stage and makes films. He’s widely acknowledged as a pioneer in using education and theatre to challenge and dismantle the arts/science divide. Jeff is an Honorary Fellow of the University of Plymouth.

Rebecca Gould, Co-Director

Rebecca is a theatre director and producer. She specialises in directing new plays, education projects, and directing plays for and with young people. Her current work includes projects for the Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre Wales, British Council and Wellcome Trust. Rebecca was previously Associate Director at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth, Young People’s Producer at the National Theatre, London, Director of the English Shakespeare Company’s Education Company and Associate Director of Made in Wales Theatre Company, Cardiff. She has a strong interest in working internationally, and has produced and directed productions and festivals in London, Cardiff, Hong Kong, Kolkata, India and Ghana.

Simon Turley, Writer

Simon is a playwright and Head of Creative Arts at Ridgeway School, Plymouth, UK. He has been Theatrescience’s lead writer for five years, plays including ‘Seeing Without Light’ (2005) and ‘Something Somatic’ (2007), and is currently working on the new Eden Project partnership, ‘Not My Fault’ (2009 ongoing). He has also written for BBC television, and his plays have been published by Parthian Books.

Professor Anthony J. Pinching, Scientific Adviser

Professor Pinching is Associate Dean for Cornwall, Professor of Clinical Immunology, at the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry. He has previously held posts including Louis Freeman Professor of Immunology & Head of Division, Molecular Pathology, at Barts and The London/QMUL. and Honorary Fellow Department of Human Science and Medical Ethics, QMUL. He has published over 250 peer-reviewed papers and 5 books on HIV/AIDS, CFS/ME, and medical ethics, and has a strong interest in public policy involvement.

Mel Scaffold, Project Manager

In addition to her current work with Theatrescience, Mel is Programme Co-ordinator (South West) for Apples & Snakes, where she develops and promotes performance poets through new events and venue relationships, artist development workshops and innovative education programmes. Her background in arts education means she has supported many people to get their work off the page and onto the stage.  As a member of the Arts Development & Education team at Theatre Royal Plymouth she managed primary projects, including ‘Playhouse’, the new writing partnership with York Theatre Royal and Polka, and most recently she has developed creative projects for children in care with Real Ideas Organisation. She is very interested in work that crosses boundaries – between countries, creative practices and disciplines – and is exploring these ideas through an MA in Performance Research.

Jessica Mordsley, Assistant Producer

Jessica is a freelance writer and editor who has worked with Theatrescience as Assistant Producer on a number of projects since 2008. She holds a PhD in Critical and Cultural Theory from Cardiff University, where her research focused on the interaction between the arts and sciences in constructing the cultural and symbolic boundaries between humans and other animals.