The Utterly Revolting Science Show

The Utterly Revolting Science Show comes to The Tivoli Theatre on Monday 19 October, with two performances on the one day: 11:30am and 3:00pm. It's put on by the Rude Science team, and the whole thing is the brainchild of Stefan Gates, who's presented 20 TV series — five for CBBC — written 13 books, including Rude Science, and produced science stage shows for audiences around the world.

On the surface, it's a rollercoaster of disgusting experiments built for young audiences. Gates describes it as a hilarious, high-tech, highly explosive journey through the human body, and the title doesn't hold back on what that looks like: burp biology, fart physics and revolting edible chemistry. There are burp machines, edible fireworks, ridiculous games and, as the team puts it, the world's loudest fart. It's the kind of thing that'll have kids laughing at the gross stuff while they're actually watching science happen in front of them.

But there's more to it than the shock value. Under the bonnet, it's a curriculum-driven adventure designed to inspire a lasting fascination with science, so it works as a proper introduction to the subject rather than just a collection of tricks. If you've got kids who'd rather be playing with slime than reading a textbook, this is exactly the sort of thing that might actually get them interested.

Tickets are £20.50, which includes a £1 venue restoration donation, and there's a group discount if you're bringing a crowd: a group of 10 or more gets one ticket free. One practical thing to keep in mind: the show isn't suitable for anyone with latex allergies. The Tivoli is at 34-48 Guild Street, AB11 6NB, and with the 11:30am and 3:00pm slots, it's a good one for a school day or a bank holiday trip.