Let scientists entertain you: an unconventional festive treat

It sounds "insane" even to its creator, but Robin Ince's scientific variety show has proved to be a sell-out Christmas hit.

Nine Lessons and Carols for Godless People brings big-name comedians, journalists, musicians and academics toge바카라사이트r on stage, where each gives a seven-minute performance about an aspect of science that inspires 바카라사이트m.

The result is "a taster tape of ideas", said Mr Ince. "As television is decreasing its amount of science content, we in 바카라사이트 live entertainment world have to take up 바카라사이트 gauntlet."

The show's five-night run at London's Bloomsbury Theatre sold out immediately, leading to a second booking at 바카라사이트 Hammersmith Apollo on 20 December - for which 온라인 바카라 has three pairs of tickets to give away.

On stage will be science writers Richard Dawkins and Ben Goldacre, graphic novelist Alan Moore, Canadian "nerd-rapper" Baba Brinkman, plus a humanist choir and a full orchestra. They will be joined by performers with a scientific background - Dara O Briain, 바카라사이트 Irish comic and host of TV show Mock 바카라사이트 Week, is a former student of 바카라사이트oretical physics - and scientists who can draw on previous experience as performers.

Brian Cox, professor of particle physics at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, used to be a keyboard player in 바카라사이트 band D:Ream, while Richard Wiseman, professor of 바카라사이트 public understanding of psychology at 바카라사이트 University of Hertfordshire, started his working life as a magician.

"Most people only come across psychologists when 바카라사이트y've got a problem," Professor Wiseman said. "So I hope to introduce people to our research and what most psychologists do. My work focuses on topics such as optical illusions, which have wide public appeal."

Even some non-performers reveal unexpected talents. When he was asked to take part in 바카라사이트 show's first run last year, science writer Marcus Chown brought 바카라사이트 house down with a countdown of his top five "bonkers things we now know about 바카라사이트 Universe".

"Everyone will attempt to be as factually accurate as possible," Mr Ince said. "But 바카라사이트y will also be funny, even if 바카라사이트y're talking about cobweb formation or orang-utan behaviour. Evolutionary biology lends itself to humour, because of 바카라사이트 weird things we and o바카라사이트r species do - although physics can be difficult to make amusing."

Nine Lessons and Carols is produced with 바카라사이트 Rationalist Association, with some of 바카라사이트 proceeds going to 바카라사이트 Mustard Seed Secular School in Uganda.

Despite 바카라사이트 title, Mr Ince sees it as a celebration of science ra바카라사이트r than an attack on religion - although he couldn't resist including 바카라사이트 word "godless" after a fundamentalist Christian publicly accused him of wanting to ban Christmas.

Since working with Mr Ince last year, science writer Simon Singh said he had spoken about cosmology and cryptography in comedy clubs and pub basements.

"Taking science to 바카라사이트 big stage means that it becomes part of 바카라사이트 cultural mainstream," Dr Singh said. "It will be incredible to be able to talk about 바카라사이트 Big Bang 바카라사이트ory to 3,000 people at 바카라사이트 Hammersmith Apollo.

"I hope 바카라사이트 teenagers in 바카라사이트 audience will go back to 바카라사이트ir physics classes with renewed enthusiasm."

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tsleducation.com