It's been a great summer for kids theatre in London. But Brainiac Live! at Marylebone Theatre comes to an end on 24 August, so get your family tickets fast if you don't want to miss out on a high-energy show, filled with smoke, explosions, a supercharged spinning chair, and wacky science stunts.
Based on the popular TV show, Brainiac Live! is back in London for the first time in five years, inviting audiences to watch science experiments and demonstrations from the safety of their theatre seat.
I took my sons Odhran, 9, and Reuben, 6, along to see the show, and on arrival I was wondering about seating. We'd never been to London's Marylebone Theatre before, and as Brainiac Live! is a show that's all about demonstrations, I hoped the theatre wouldn't be so big that we'd struggled to see exactly what was happening on stage. But Marylebone Theatre is the perfect size for a show like this. It offers West End quality theatre in an intimate setting of around 200 capacity. So, no matter where you sit, you'll be able to fully enjoy the performance.
At the beginning of the show, they hand out ear defenders. If your little one is in any way noise sensitive, grab a pair, as there are a lot of loud bangs throughout. We, however, decided to go without, as we felt this might hinder our involvement. But at one point, Reuben got startled by a particularly loud bang and cried a little. He's always had a bit of a fear of bursting balloons, and this was a large one filled with oxygen. So, when popped by a flame, it made a really loud bang. But it didn't bother him too much, and moments later, he was back to smiling and laughing at the antics on stage. However, some members of the audience did decide to move from their front row seats to the back of the auditorium.
Brainiac Live! is great for introducing kids to everyday science, and creating an interest in the fun side of chemistry, with exploding gases and liquid nitrogen experiments. The audience is invited to cheer, boo and hiss, as the Brainiacs carry out their daft stunts in the name of science. Actor Rik Warren, who plays Brainiac Ed, brings a pantomime style to his performance that delighted the kids in the audience and had enough innuendo to keep the parents laughing along too.
The show was an hour long, which felt like the perfect length for kids. Odhran and Reuben remained absorbed throughout and laughed their heads off.
Marylebone Theatre is right next to the beautiful Regent's Park, so why not pack a picnic to enjoy in the park after the show. Hire a boat and head out on the lake or take a stroll around the rose gardens. Regent's Park is also home to London Zoo if you wanted to catch an early performance of Brainiac Lives! and visit the zoo afterwards, for a fun-filled day to see out the summer holidays.
Tickets cost from £26.50 with group booking rates available.
Find out morehere.