Chapter 5: Topics and Venues: Beyond Expectations

Despite a lack of consensus on what to call and how to define the theatre that dialogues with science in the context of science communication (as discussed in Chapter 2, Conceptualising Science-Theatre), a core defining feature is that such productions address science-related topics as a central theme. But science is a vast universe. What science are we talking about? What scientific issues have been brought up on stage? Are some areas of science more often present than others? These are some of the questions we explore in this chapter. Another area that lacks consensus concerns the venues in which this theatre takes place, as some authors argue that this is another feature of science-theatre in the context of science communication. Venues hosting science-theatre include less traditional sites for theatre, such as science centres, aquaria, zoos, schools and science festivals. We examine how far the claim that venues form a distinctive feature of science-theatre holds up in practice, considering whether theatre created with science communication intentions is really restricted to these spaces. In exploring the topics covered and venues occupied, we hope to uncover the nuances of science-theatre that takes place in the context of science communication, with a view to mapping this diverse landscape.