LIVE THEATRE THAT INSPIRES EXCITEMENT FOR MATH AND SCIENCE
Commissions & Workshops
You are no stranger to the power of theatre. You know that live, empathetic interaction is the key to learning, and that theatre is one of the most immediate ways to tap into the human imagination. That's why you want to make theatre in your institution. So you've come here, seeking wisdom and experience--professionals who know how to produce and teach quality STEM-based plays.
We help you tell science's stories
Storytelling in all its forms is a vital way to engage the public with science. As career theatre makers who specialize in telling stories about science and math, our skills and experience are available for virtually any collaboration, consultation, and commissioned work you can imagine.
Our team is experienced in research and dramaturgy around science, math, and history, and is known for our attention to scientific accuracy and density of content camouflaged in an entertaining experience. We are skilled at interviewing experts in any field to understand the core concepts and sparks that make science exciting, and using these expert’s real world experiences to inform authentic characters and story arcs. With extensive backgrounds writing in various genres of drama, musical theatre, sketch and standup comedy, interactive theatre, ensemble-created theatre, music and song lyrics, virtual events, puzzles and hybrid experiences, we are available to guide, produce, collaborate or contribute to your organization's ongoing programming content.
Matheatre/History Science Theatre was chosen to create the debut production for the state-of-the-art Lowell Universe Theater at Lowell Observatory. This venue was recently featured in Smithsonian Magazine as one of "The Most Anticipated Museum Openings of 2024."
Commission a Play or Theatrical Experience
Do you want to make a lasting impression on your guests? Do you have a performance space that needs quality content? Looking for programming that is truly unique and customized to your institution or community? Let our team of professional theatre artists craft a play, puzzle room, interactive exhibit or other theatrical experience specifically for your institution.
Add Narrative to Demonstration
Take your demonstration show to the next level by infusing it with story. At History Science Theatre, we can work with your educators to breathe life and character into a demonstration-based show. As story-driven creatures, humans connect with story and empathetic characters, so let us make your explosions even more powerful!
Transform with Interactive Experiences
Interactive theatre puts your guests at the center of the story! Let History Science Theatre build an adventure for your guests to riddle through. By incorporating elements of puzzles, story, characters, and theatrical moments, your guests will find themselves interacting with STEM concepts in a wholly memorable way.
The Art of Science Narrative*
Participants will focus on finding the heart of stories as a way to describe scientific processes or innovations, tap into human emotions to illustrate abstract science principles, identify protagonists and character journeys (even non-human ones!), and make sense of it all through essential story structure. This interactive class will have all participants engaged in collaborative exercises that culminate in the creation and presentation of their own (very short) plays. Participants should dress comfortably and be prepared to move in their own style.
*Our most popular workshop for teambuilding!
Presentation for Non-Performers
This workshop focuses on practical tools to develop self-assuredness and stay grounded in the moment while speaking publicly. Participants will practice how to confidently stand, sit, walk or wheel into the limelight, vocal and gestural techniques to project their knowledge or research with authentic authority, and use their bodies and breath to make nervousness work in their favor! This class will have all participants engaged in group games and exercises that facilitate practice and experience while taking away all the pressure, and no one will be put on the spot or singled out to speak alone unless they actively want to. Individual coaching also available!
Sing a Song of Science
Whether a fun add-on or a standalone experience, this workshop explores some of the ways in which music is a powerful way to convey information. Especially useful for teachers and online content creators and fun for any science communicator, participants will engage with rhythmic and poetic techniques to develop solid educational and informative song lyrics, using the art of parody as a basis. Collaborative exercises in brainstorming, drafting, and refining song lyrics will culminate in the performance of original parody songs created by participants. Karaoke tracks are provided, and while everyone is encouraged and supported to sing like no one’s watching, a professional vocalist is available for those who prefer to hear their creation instead of perform.
Science communication workshops: public speaking, storytelling and team building
Whether defending a dissertation, seeking funding, speaking to the press, lobbying the government, teaching students, or explaining your work to a curious but slightly bemused aunt or neighbor, effectively communicating science and research is a crucial skill for any scientist.
Our workshops empower scientists with tools employed by actors and theatre artists–tools that engage listeners, stimulate the imagination, tap into emotion, and craft a compelling narrative–all important tools for getting a scientific message across to any audience. Everything from articulating an abstract concept with clarity of language, to public speaking mechanics like poise, posture and vocal projection–all have a place in the toolbelt of an effective science communicator. Our workshops in storytelling and public speaking engage scientists and researchers with the following:
-Confidence-building for the public speaking averse.
-The opportunity to take creative risks in a safe and supportive space.
-Connection with the imagination (individual and collective).
-Identifying basic narrative-framing structures and applying them to linear and abstract concepts.
-Identifying ways to access the emotions of your audience in order to inspire awe or facilitate understanding.
-An unforgettable opportunity to get to know new colleagues or enrich team relationships by experiencing the ways your peers are more creative, funny, and expressive than you may have known.
The descriptions here are general descriptions of available workshop types. Aspects of different workshops can be combined and all workshops are customizable for length, content, focus of participants or goals of your event–ranging from a minimum of 90 minutes to full extended residencies.
Testimony after a commissioned workshop for CÚRAM Centre for Research in Medical Devices in Ireland:
"From the outset Matheatre were extremely easy to deal with and worked closely with us in the planning stages to understand exactly what we needed from the training sessions... Ricky and Sadie are experts at taking people outside of their comfort zone and guiding and encouraging them through the initial discomfort of feeling vulnerable, to create results that the participants can be really proud of. One of the key impacts of the time spent with Matheatre was the effect it had on the relationships within the group, particularly helpful for new students getting to know their colleagues. By the end of the process four teams of researchers took to the stage to perform their short sketches. To have got to this point of confidence with the group after only four hours of training and engagement was incredibly impressive." --Claire Riordan