Plastic Drastic Fantastic

Akademi bring Plastic Drastic Fantastic to Pavilion Dance South West on Saturday 31 October, a contemporary dance theatre piece for children and families. It's a look at our complicated relationship with plastic: the fantastic possibilities it opens up on one hand, and the drastic environmental consequences on the other. The show draws on South Asian dance techniques and the Indian classical form Bharatanatyam, with the artists working through the dangers of plastic misuse using intricate movement, gestures, and play, and audience interaction woven in throughout.

There's a fair bit of ground behind it. The project was steered by children and young people and created in collaboration with material scientists at UCL, and it was originally co-produced with Polka Theatre. It's been touring UK venues since 2022, with runs in 2023, 2024, and 2025, so this is a well-travelled production. It's directed and choreographed by Subathra Subramaniam, with costume design by Brian Hartley.

It's an inclusive experience, accessible to D/deaf young people and children. The 2pm performance is a relaxed performance, and the staging includes some loud noises and changes in lighting dynamics, so that's worth keeping in mind if you're planning your visit. There are two performances on the day, at 11am and 2pm, with a workshop in between at 12 noon.

Tickets are £8, and the show runs at the Ocean Theatre within Pavilion Dance South West, on Westover Road in Bournemouth.