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Where Science meets Street Theatre
Over 4 days you will create, rehearse and perform a brand-new piece of silly science-busking street theatre - to take place in Swindon! Through an ensemble devising process you will create some crazy costumed characters and then head out to share some madcap experiments with unsuspecting members of the public, as part of the town-wide Festival of Tomorrow during February half term.
Participants will plan and rehearse on Monday 17th to Wednesday 19th. Public performances will take place on Thursday 20th
Join us for the Swindon leg of the Best of Wildscreen Tour. We’ll be screening the Young Programmers Short Film Package, a collection of short environmental films centered around the theme of Hope.
Curated by a panel of Young Programmers, based in or from the South West, this collection of shorts transports us to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in South-West Uganda, the Lagoa do Peixe National Park in Brazil, the mycorrhizal networks of Chile and the wild, rolling hills of Britain 10,000 years ago.
The Best of Wildscreen Tour is being delivered in partnership with Wildscreen with support from the BFI Fan Exhibition Fund, awarding funds from the National Lottery in order to bring this project to more audiences across the UK.
Tickets
£8 Over-25s
£5 Under 25s
Bingo meets Tech meets Comedy
An interactive, smartphone powered comedy act like no other. Experience a whole new side of bingo created by Foxdog Studios (Lloyd & Pete) and their robotic bingo mascot, Mr Bing. Expect chaos, games and laughs.
Join the fun without leaving your seat as bingo cards are beamed to your phone using their own homemade software and play with their DIY robots. Claim your prize by tapping the button and blast “Bingo!” out the main speakers (but be ready to go to bingo jail if you cry wolf).
After a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe and an award winning run in Adelaide, Australia - Pete and Lloyd return with a brand new Comedy Bingo night - each show contains fresh games and gadgets whilst still featuring the bingo* you all know and love.
*DR BINGOS WARNING: DO NOT ATTEND IF YOU WANT TO PLAY NORMAL BINGO
“The lo-fi tech wizardry is ingenious, and it’s irresistible fun to play along” Guardian
As seen on BBC Click, CBBC Live Lessons, Channel 4 UK, featured in The Guardian, The Observer, WIRED Magazine UK and heard on BBC Radio 4 Extra.
Doors open at 7.30PM for an 8PM start.
Special Earlybird Savings:
Adult tickets only £5 each when you book by 31 January.
Thereafter £8 each.
Under 18s tickets are FREE. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult ticket holder
Not recommended for ages under 8
Measuring seven metres in diameter, Gaia features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface*. The artwork provides the opportunity to see our planet on this scale, floating in three-dimensions.
Join us for a joyful celebration under Gaia, with live performances, music and activities throughout the day.
Meet collage artist Marian Hill and find out about her insect illustration project Buzz & Scuttle.
Discover how awesome UK insects are and then collage your own insect illustration.
Insects may be small & easy to overlook, but they are amazing and diverse creatures which we cannot live without. Indeed, most people are unaware of the extraordinary insects living all around us and the crucial jobs they carry out, so be prepared to be amazed by some fantastic insect facts!
Sheryll K Fox, Carol Burns and Andi Theokle are local, experienced, talented artists who will be exhibiting an eclectic mix of their paintings. Their work complements each other and yet is varied in subject and style. They will show expressionist landscapes, cheeky teddies, vibrant nudes & moving abstract paintings.
Sheryll’s paintings are inspired by movement, the undulating beauty of our ever-changing landscape, and the graceful motion of dancers. Each painting is filled with exquisite, expressive marks and texture.
Carols' art is a complex tapestry of layers and textures, creating abstract masterpieces that draw the eye into a mesmerizing depth of field. Each artwork is a journey of discovery, where new details emerge with every glance.
Andi brings a playful and bold energy with her abstract real style, producing large-scale pieces that captivate. Her art challenges conventions and invites viewers to see the world through a different lens. Each artwork is a statement, a celebration of individuality and a testament to the power of artistic expression.
The exhibition is free to enjoy, with their art available to purchase. Meet the artists, learn about their inspiration and techniques, and watch out for ‘live’ painting sessions where you can see them at work.
Experience a fascinating collision of music, dance, art and technology at The Sonic Body Lab with our interactive sound sculptures!
They're artworks that you can try for yourself - play them like instruments, explore how they move, learn how they were made or even design your own.
They're still in development, and we need you to help us finish them. When they’re done, we’ll bring them back for Festival of Tomorrow 2026.
Pop in at any time, and stay as long as you like.
In true Festival of Tomorrow style, you'll leave inspired and ready for your next adventure.
All welcome - most suitable for ages 4 to 11 and their families.
Journey to the depths of the ocean with our fin-tastic family trail this half-term.
Collect a free trail sheet from Guest Services (located opposite at the North entrance) and see how many sea creatures you can spot?
Explore the Ocean Artefacts Museum, where you can interact with fascinating items like an orca skull, shark jaws, and dolphin leg bones.
Join us in this immersive journey into the heart of our blue planet, designed to inspire, educate, and amaze explorers of all ages!
Flex your creative muscles with this drawing class with a difference with our orca skull replica as the centre piece. Learn about orca anatomy, behaviour, and evolution as we guide you through a still-life drawing workshops for all abilities
Don't miss this vibrant and eclectic exhibition celebrating the creativity of local artists of all ages and abilities.
Plus make your own artworks at our inspiring range of free creative workshops and drop-in activities throughout the half-term week.
Hothouse is an interactive garden featuring six 2.5 metre tall plant sculptures brought to life through movement, light, air, and Air Giants’ pioneering robotic technology.
Hothouse invites audiences of all ages to explore a collection of new other-worldly botanical specimens.
Find out how each one moves and immerse yourself in a robotic environment of colour and movement.
Bio-plastics are a bit like baking! We’ll mix up simple ingredients, colours and textures and pour them into moulds to set, making weird and wonderful materials.
Your outcomes will make a collaborative art work to display during the festival!
All materials supplied and no experience necessary.
There are two sessions available throughout the day; please reserve your spot on the time which best suits you:
Morning workshop -10.30am-12.30pm
Afternoon workshop - 2pm-4pm
This is a completely free event but as capacity is very limited, we ask for a small deposit to secure your slot. This will be refunded in full provided you turn up on the day, or cancel your reservation at least 24 hours in advance so that someone else from the waitlist can have the opportunity to take part.
Donations to help towards the costs of art materials are very welcome but please don't feel obliged to contribute.
If you find you are unable to attend, please cancel your booking as soon as possible so that someone else on the waitlist can have the opportunity to take part.
FREE to take part, with refundable deposit to secure your place
Peatmoor Community Woodland Group was set up by Swindon Borough Council in 1988 to engage volunteers in managing the woodland once surrounded by farm fields in North Wiltshire. It's a remaining fragment of the ancient Bradon Forest and appears on the earliest maps from the 1780s.
The woodland once served very local demand for wood used in agriculture and building. It was also a source of fuel and supplied basket makers with willow. The copse was conserved for its historic biodiversity when Swindon expanded westwards in the mid-1970s. The deep layer of peat over coral rag geology makes the site an unusual example of wet woodland. Being located next to the artificially created Peatmoor Lagoon, the copse is important for its rainwater storage capacity, as well as being a carbon sink.
The group follows a traditional coppicing programme using hand tools from October to April. Coppicing is an ancient technique of cutting trees, mainly hazel, to ground level to let light in to encourage biodiversity. This is carried out in defined compartments so that trees regenerate over a seven year cycle. On 15th February volunteers will show you around the woodland and chat about the importance of woodland and preserving the old ways of managing them. See more information and images at https://peatmoorcopse.mystrikingly.com Notes for visitors
• Please assemble at Roughmoor Village Centre (also known as Peatmoor Centre), Shearwood Road, SN5 5DJ. What 3Words: ///camcorder.deal.ritual Visits start at 10am, 11am or 12noon; the copse is a 5 minute walk away.
• The copse is not a park; it is deliberately kept as a rural woodland. Please be aware that the footpaths and boardwalks are uneven and at times muddy and slippery. Wear good footwear and bring wet weather clothing.
• Children are most welcome but must be supervised by a parent/carer.
• The nearest toilets are located at The Woodland Edge pub at the village centre
Welcome to Festival of Tomorrow's first ever Dance Workshop! This workshop is presented by DANCE ROOTS AFRICA in partnership with Festival of Tomorrow.
Join us for a day filled with dance, music and fun. Whether you're a complete beginner or experienced dancer, this workshop is perfect for anyone looking to learn new moves and have a great time.
We will play with some simple, traditional African dance movement and explore how these inspire present and future dance forms. There is a chance to perform with Dance Roots Africa if the rhythm takes you too!
Come dance with us at the Festival of Tomorrow Dance Workshop.
Have you ever touched a cloud? Have you ever smelled a strawberry cloud….or a lemon one?! At The Cloud Factory, everyone can touch, see and hear clouds as they are made from dry ice. They’ll even smell and taste interesting when we add in some unusual laboratory reagents!
This is a show like no other! Thanks to some specially made equipment, everyone can get hands-on in complete safety. For some in the audience this is a purely sensory experience, but to others it is a memorable exploration of states of matter – don’t forget to bring your camera!
This show does not contain loud bangs or flashes.
It is suitable for all ages and abilities.
This fun and creative workshop will get you thinking about ‘Our Future Earth’ and the theme of nature and science in words and pictures. We will use collage papers and drawing techniques to create original artworks inspired by poems about nature and the earth.
Bring along your favourite nature-inspired poem or work with one of ours. You’ll be gently guided to ask yourself questions about the poem, such as ‘are there distinct colours in it?’ or ‘are there distinct images in it, if so what are they doing?’ or ‘Does the poem shout, whisper, show or exaggerate?’
Words and Pictures is suitable for children and young people 10-16 and/or family groups.
All materials supplied and no experience necessary. We’ll be using glue, pens and pencils so you may want to wear something old.
A relaxed opportunity to experience Gaia as we dim the hall lights and let the soft glow of the artwork's internal illumination come into it's own.
Join Dr Sarah Bearchell to explore bubbles! We’ll make some big bubbles, small bubbles and explore shapes and colours too.
This show becomes interactive when everyone learns some Makaton signs to share their ideas.
Award-winning composer, pianist, and a developer of the app Shazam, Charlie Hooper-Williams invites you to find out.
Hooper-Williams welcomes you to a unique performance experience where sound and visuals come together in real time. Playing alongside Otto—a custom-built live projections system he coded—his music takes on another dimension, with visuals that respond directly to every note and gesture. The result is “film scoring inverted”, imagery supporting music rather than the other way around. This is a performance that’s both stunning and deeply human: intricate, virtuosic piano playing paired with imagery that amplifies its emotional core.
Raised in the forests of Minnesota and shaped by studies at Cambridge, Charlie’s music bridges the gap between classical tradition and modern innovation. His work draws on influences as varied as Nils Frahm and Max Cooper, combining intricate textures with moving, accessible melodies. Whether in a concert hall or a nightclub, his shows immerse audiences in a world where technology isn’t cold or distant but alive and collaborative.
Join Charlie under Luke Jerram’s Gaia Earth artwork, for a magical performance, that redefines what a piano concert can be.
Doors open at 7.30PM for an 8PM start.
Adults £5
Under 18s tickets are FREE. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult ticket hold
Recommended for ages 6+
image credit: Martin Tompkins
A lively and interactive demonstration workshop for science lovers and anyone interested in how theatre is made.
Find out about how sound and light travels and how it's used together in theatre to create imaginary worlds.
An inclusive and entertaining hour in the Wyvern auditorium and on the main stage itself with hands on opportunities to create sound and lighting effects.
Recommended ages 10 to adult
The four metre diameter Sonic Spider is the world’s first eight-legged musical instrument. It is designed to take you into the world of the orb web-spider, the kind that weaves big circular webs.
It is a world very different from our own. The female spiders who build these webs are almost blind. Instead of sight, they rely on their exquisite sensitivity to vibrations, air currents and touch to know what is happening around them.
The spider builds her web in darkness, measuring out and spinning her elegant structure using only her sense of touch and the reach of her eight legs. Then, web built, she sits silently, upside-down at its centre, “seeing” her world only through the vibrations of the silken lines stretching out from her body.
For us humans, listening to the sounds around us is the closest that we can come to entering the spider’s world of vibration. That is why the “Sonic Spider” was created. Imagine that this whole performance space is filled by a spider’s web, stretching out to the walls, with the Sonic Spider siting at its centre. The musicians playing its eight piano wires enter into the mind of the spider and the sensations she feels from her web.
Further out in this space, other musicians, playing a variety of instruments, represent the events that might happen in a spider’s night: a passing fly might come along and be trapped in the web, the wind may set the web vibrating and damage it, a male spider may arrive looking for a mate but find itself being eaten, a predator might come along and the spider must flee…
The spider senses these events through the vibrations travelling to her in the web, the only world she knows. This is the world that the musicians will turn into sound.
Make nature-inspired paper bunting to help decorate the Festival of Tomorrow’s Hot House exhibition space in this playful drop-in workshop.
Draw, paint, stick or decorate your paper bunting inspired by your favourite plants, flowers, trees and insects.
Stay for as little or as long as you like in the morning or afternoon session.
All materials supplied and no experience necessary. We’ll be using pens, pencils and glue so you may want to wear something old.
A quieter opportunity to experience Gaia; the hall lights will be dimmed and the soundtrack will be turned off - recommended for those with sensory processing issues.
If you could speak to Mother Earth, what would you say?
Join award-winning children’s author, Kate Claxton, for a fun and interactive storytelling (and writing!) experience inspired by Gaia,the Greek mythological mother of Earth.
These 45 minute sessions will allow children aged 4-11 to explore thoughts, feelings, wishes and wonders of Earth, nature and all things wild, all whilst gazing up at Luke Jerram’s spectacular Gaiainstallation.
Kate will share funny and fascinating rhymes and stories of our amazing Earth to inspire your budding writers. Written on wild flower-seeded paper, our finished stories and drawings can be taken home to plant, water and nurture. Our very own gift to nature, our very own letters to Gaia!
Cyanotype is a printing method which uses UV light to expose blue images/prints onto paper or fabric. We’ll be using found plants and flowers to make our prints which you can take home with you. Drop in, subject to availability.
Make some Noise! Look out for the roaming Noise Technicians who will show you how to rock a bass riff on a distorted rubber band, or strum a beautiful melody on an egg slicer. Can you create beautiful music on upcycled e-waste? Or just a horrendous cacophony? It’s all the same to us ‘cos we like NOISE!
The Audio Assault Buggy is loaded with strange and wonderful up-cycled instruments for you to try. If you are feeling brave you can hold onto the robotic arms and attempt the infamous Noisy Toys Nose Test. Why not electrocute your friends and family too? Then everyone can win the ‘Nose Tested’ stamp.
You can hot-wire a CD ROM drive, re-create laser-blaster sounds with an amplified slinky, have a go on a motorised violin with a whammy bar and experiment with musical feedback using balloons and contact microphones. It’s all for you to try, it’s all noisy and a bit strange, just like us!
Our Noise Technicians are experts at engaging people of all ages to try out quick, easy, noisy experiments, so just listen out for funny noises and come and have a go.
Let your creativity run wild in this exciting drop-in activity workshop where you can try out different tools and materials to draw some of winter’s beautiful plants and flowers.
With some gentle guidance and support, you’ll be able to experiment with a range of mark making tools including sticks and feathers and play with pens, pencils, inks and paints to creatively make your drawings.
Stay for as little or as long as you like in the morning or afternoon session.
All materials supplied and no experience necessary. We’ll be using pens, pencils, inks and paints so you may want to wear something old.
A relaxed opportunity to experience Gaia as we dim the hall lights and let the soft glow of the artwork's internal illumination come into it's own.
We have 3 brilliant comics, mixing comedy with science. The evening will be MC’d by our legendary local comedy king, Sam Michael from Old Town Comedy Club, with fantastic sets from Matt Hobs, back again after a brilliant set at last year’s festival, and Scottish comedian and chaos potato, Lynsey Smart!
Tickets
£8 over 25
£5 under 25s
How does scientific research translate into real life health improvements? There is no simple answer, but more often than not public input is essential to guide researchers in the right direction. As scientists we can design public health interventions that we may deem scientifically flawless, but without public backing they are doomed from the start. To counter this we need to open dialogue early in the process and embrace diverse opinions. Since the COVID pandemic multidisciplinary research including input from scientists, social scientists, policy makers and the public has grown in importance and we hope to highlight some examples at this event from researchers based at the University of Oxford, University College London and beyond.
There will be plenty of fun hands on family activities for the half term crowds, as well as information and adult focused discussions on offer across a diverse range of public health themes. Including but not limited to; pandemics, seasonal diseases, vaccines, antimicrobial resistance, mental health and hospital care.
A relaxed opportunity to experience Gaia as we dim the hall lights and let the soft glow of the artwork's internal illumination come into it's own.
Film screening and Q&A with Director Carey Born and ethicist Chris Register
Neil Harbisson aims to show the world that enhancing human senses with technology is a positive force. Born with the inability to see colour, he had an ‘eyeborg’ antenna implanted in his skull at 21, allowing him to hear colour through sound frequencies. Along with artist Moon Ribas, Harbisson co-founded the Cyborg Foundation to promote new technological senses and the Transpecies Society, which advocates for non-human identities and the freedom of self-design. In Carey Born’s compelling documentary, Neil and Moon address their critics and explore their vision for humanity’s technological future.
Tickets
£8 Over-25s
£5 Under 25s
In this winter-tree walk and draw workshop, tree expert Robyn Hayward and artist Jo Beal will take you on a morning walk through the Lawns, followed by a reflective art journaling workshop. You’ll make your own 8-page fold out sketchbook to take on the walk with you to make notes, take rubbings and make drawings. Later, you’ll use those notes to make a creative, personal art journal page inspired by what you’ve seen, heard, felt and learnt. Jo will show you some easy techniques for completing your art journal page and will bring lots of examples and ideas too.
All materials supplied and no experience necessary. We’ll be using pens, pencils and glue so you may want to wear something old.
Bring a packed lunch as refreshments are not provided!
Please note, the Discovery Zones open from 10am to 11am as a Quiet Hour and entry for show ticket-holders.
General entry for the Discovery Zones is from 11am
Explore four FREE interactive Discovery Zones packed with amazing demos, intriguing exhibits, hands-on activities, challenges and free workshops from organisations including the James Dyson Foundation, Catalent, the University of Bath, Swindon Paint Festival, the European Space Agency, Kings College London, the Woodland Trust and United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Delve into how your body really works and discover the innovations that are unlocking the secrets of human health, with exciting hands-on activities and demos - and the chance to participate in some real citizen science projects!
Explore the universe with a planetarium show, imagine the technologies of the future through a space-inspired art workshop, or get hands-on with some intriguing objects.
Meet the organisations who are helping to care for our environment and meeting the challenges of climate change, with lots of activities for all the family.
Get up close and personal with the tech that is shaping our future.
AI and machine learning are changing the world. Robots can now ‘boldly go where no robots have gone before.’ But can they do the ironing? Meet T-1-FNY the only domesticated battlefield robot with Podpadstudios.
THERE'S ALWAYS SO MUCH TO SEE AND DO - MAKE SURE YOU ALLOW PLENTY OF TIME FOR YOUR VISIT!
Walk-in visitors are very welcome on the day, but we do recommend booking a pass in advance as the Festival Finale is a very popular event and we may need to restrict entry on the day to make sure the number of visitors in the venue don't exceed the maximum safe capacity.
Explore four FREE interactive Discovery Zones packed with amazing demos, intriguing exhibits, hands-on activities, challenges and free workshops from organisations including the James Dyson Foundation, Catalent, the University of Bath, Swindon Paint Festival, the European Space Agency, Kings College London, the Woodland Trust and United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Delve into how your body really works and discover the innovations that are unlocking the secrets of human health, with exciting hands-on activities and demos - and the chance to participate in some real citizen science projects!
Explore the universe with a planetarium show, imagine the technologies of the future through a space-inspired art workshop, or get hands-on with some intriguing objects.
Meet the organisations who are helping to care for our environment and meeting the challenges of climate change, with lots of activities for all the family.
Get up close and personal with the tech that is shaping our future.
AI and machine learning are changing the world. Robots can now ‘boldly go where no robots have gone before.’ But can they do the ironing? Meet T-1-FNY the only domesticated battlefield robot with Podpadstudios.
THERE'S ALWAYS SO MUCH TO SEE AND DO - MAKE SURE YOU ALLOW PLENTY OF TIME FOR YOUR VISIT!
Please note, the Discovery Zones are also open from 10am to 11am as a Quiet Opening
Walk-in visitors are very welcome on the day, but we do recommend booking a pass in advance as the Festival Finale is a very popular event and we may need to restrict entry on the day to make sure the number of visitors in the venue don't exceed the maximum safe capacity.
What is this mysterious thing called Bass and why does it make us feel so groovy? To find out we will fill the theatre with Booming bass vibrations, send lentils flying, expose some fake magic and wake up some dancing Oobleck monsters.
We will dip our toes into the mysteries of electromagnetism with some backwards engineering; what happens when you hack a hard drive motor and wire it up the wrong way? Some seriously deep bass is what happens!
This is not just a science show though, you lucky people can enjoy musical performances on the Motor Violin, egg slicer, rubber band and backwards CD Rom (or you can just cover your ears for that bit). If you like to take part then there’s opportunities to volunteer; come on to the stage to help with demonstrations like the infamous Noisy Toys Nose Test. Towards the end, everyone can try the 'Bass Buzz' when you will feel 1000 watts of bass power through your fingers (it’s a bit like pins and needles).
Caution: this show contains Deviant Audio! Expect some powerful low frequencies and other unexpected sounds, all at safe levels but don’t get too close if you are audio-sensitive.
Adults: £4
Under-18s: Free!
Adults: £3
Under-18s: Free!
Join the fun as we explore scientific data in new interactive ways as we find out about uncertainty in science. Scientists often don’t have the final answer to our questions and interpreting results is an important part of research. The audience will be able to see microscope images of creatures great and small and even videos of what’s happening inside the human body at a tiny scale. Join the Rosalind Franklin Institute for an interactive game show where volunteers from the audience will be able to help researchers with some of the amazing images taken by microscopes at the Franklin. Learn about some of the decisions we need to make in order to understand the fascinating processes that happen in the human body every day.
Adults: £3
Under-18s: Free!
Under-18s: Free!
Explore the chemistry, physics, and history of using our planet’s natural resources, the effect of CO2 on our planet, and the technology used to make society more sustainable.
Discover the science behind generating, transferring, and storing electricity, through a medley of mind-blowing demonstrations.
Fuel the Future is an exciting journey through what it means to be sustainable, and why that’s so important.
Adults:£4
Under-18s: Free!
Under-18s: Free!
Advances in satellite technology provide tools to both monitor levels of greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) across the globe and increasingly pinpoint their sources with unprecedented precision.
Join us for a panel discussion with leading climate scientists and satellite engineers to explore how state-of-the art sensors and space-based information is reshaping and accelerating the fight against climate change and the urgent shift towards a sustainable, low-carbon future.
Under-18s: Free!
Image Credit: ESA/ATG medialab
Advances in satellite technology provide tools to both monitor levels of greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) across the globe and increasingly pinpoint their sources with unprecedented precision.
Join us for a panel discussion with leading climate scientists and satellite engineers to explore how state-of-the art sensors and space-based information is reshaping and accelerating the fight against climate change and the urgent shift towards a sustainable, low-carbon future.
Image Credit: ESA/ATG medialab
An exciting hour long show where you can learn how your favourite UK sea creatures move, feed and protect themselves, then decide as an audience which of those are your favourite ways to create a Marine Monster to life at the end of the show. This show is full of props, costumes, underwater photos and videos, fun facts, science experiments, audience participation and lots of laughter!
Adults:£4
Under-18s: Free!
April 13 2029, Asteroid Apophis will buzz within 32,000 km of Earth. Apophis is not a threat, but a unique chance for astronomers to get a truly up-close view of an asteroid. Lessons could help us prepare defences next time one does come too close. But there is almost no time to get missions prepared to the meet, and maybe land on, the speeding space rock.
Dr Patrick Michel is leading the European effort to launch RAMSES (Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety) a year before, to chase the asteroid round the Sun and catch up just before the Earth encounter, and learn how the Earth’s environment affects it, maybe even get a selfie with Apophis behind.
Dr Stefania Soldini was on the team that deliberately crashed a NASA probe into an asteroid as an experiment in space defence. Before that was the remote pilot of a Japanese mission that tracked, landed robots on and brought back samples of another asteroid Ryugu. She’s now designing fleets of tiny cube sats that could assess dangerous asteroids in the future.
Roland Pease is a Swindon-based science journalist and Festival of Tomorrow regular
Dr Stefania Soldini (University of Liverpool)
Dr Patrick Michel ESA RAMSES Principal Investigator [live online from Nice, France]
Under-18s: Free!
Image Credit: ESA/ATG medialab
April 13 2029, Asteroid Apophis will buzz within 32,000 km of Earth. Apophis is not a threat, but a unique chance for astronomers to get a truly up-close view of an asteroid. Lessons could help us prepare defences next time one does come too close. But there is almost no time to get missions prepared to the meet, and maybe land on, the speeding space rock.
Dr Patrick Michel is leading the European effort to launch RAMSES (Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety) a year before, to chase the asteroid round the Sun and catch up just before the Earth encounter, and learn how the Earth’s environment affects it, maybe even get a selfie with Apophis behind.
Dr Stefania Soldini was on the team that deliberately crashed a NASA probe into an asteroid as an experiment in space defence. Before that was the remote pilot of a Japanese mission that tracked, landed robots on and brought back samples of another asteroid Ryugu. She’s now designing fleets of tiny cube sats that could assess dangerous asteroids in the future.
Roland Pease is a Swindon-based science journalist and Festival of Tomorrow regular
Dr Stefania Soldini (University of Liverpool)
Dr Patrick Michel ESA RAMSES Principal Investigator [live online from Nice, France]
Image Credit: ESA/ATG medialab
Fab-lab-ulous! is an interactive science demo show spectacular inspired by the stories of LGBTQIA+ scientists. The show is pack to the brim with hands on, colourful experiments for the whole family to enjoy.
This show is presented by Sarah Cosgriff, a science communicator who is passionate about improving the visibility of LGBTQIA+ scientists and sharing their stories. This show is taking place during LGBT+ History Month, a visibility month which aims to raise the visibility of LGBT+ people, their lives and their history.
Adults:£3
Under-18s: Free!
A relaxed opportunity to experience Gaia as we dim the hall lights and let the soft glow of the artwork's internal illumination come into it's own.
Where Science meets Street Theatre
Think that science just happens in labs? Think again. Watch out for our team of guerrilla street theatre scientists who will be bringing science to life with a series of public performances for all to enjoy. They’ll even be enlisting your help in their experiments. Expect wonder, awe – and even some silliness…
Explore four FREE interactive Discovery Zones packed with amazing demos, intriguing exhibits, hands-on activities, challenges and free workshops from organisations including the James Dyson Foundation, Catalent, the University of Bath, Swindon Paint Festival, the European Space Agency, Kings College London, the Woodland Trust and United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Delve into how your body really works and discover the innovations that are unlocking the secrets of human health, with exciting hands-on activities and demos - and the chance to participate in some real citizen science projects!
Explore the universe with a planetarium show, imagine the technologies of the future through a space-inspired art workshop, or get hands-on with some intriguing objects.
Meet the organisations who are helping to care for our environment and meeting the challenges of climate change, with lots of activities for all the family.
Get up close and personal with the tech that is shaping our future.
AI and machine learning are changing the world. Robots can now ‘boldly go where no robots have gone before.’ But can they do the ironing? Meet T-1-FNY the only domesticated battlefield robot with Podpadstudios.
THERE'S ALWAYS SO MUCH TO SEE AND DO - MAKE SURE YOU ALLOW PLENTY OF TIME FOR YOUR VISIT!
Walk-in visitors are very welcome on the day, but we do recommend booking a pass in advance as the Festival Finale is a very popular event and we may need to restrict entry on the day to make sure the number of visitors in the venue don't exceed the maximum safe capacity.
Bring a marine monster to life!
Come learn how your favourite sea creatures move, eat and protect themselves and combine all your favourite ways together through drawing to create the next best marine
monster.
With tons of colouring and art supplies to hand, use art a tool to learn about anatomy, ecology and marine biology and have fun creating your marine monster.
This will be a fun, fact filled creative activity that you can do for 5 minutes or the full 45 minutes!
Join aerospace engineer, creator and judge of Netflix's Baking Impossible, Andrew Smyth, on an edible exploration of the engineering that helps us safely travel around the planet. With audience tasters and live demonstrations, this fast-paced family show takes you on a journey via sea, road and sky to discover what baking can tell us about cutting-edge engineering. From the secrets of edible boats to a deliciously survivable crash test, expect to have your curiosity whisked up!
Adults: £4
Under-18s: Free!
Adults: £3
Under-18s: Free!
Free access
Adults: £3
Under-18s: Free!
Free access
Love dinosaurs? Then this is the show for you. Join author and science presenter, Jon Chase, for an entertaining exploration of the science behind the much-loved movie franchise that helped to change the way we see dinosaurs. Features roarsome raps and bundles of dinosaur facts; fun for all the family! Jon Chase is the co-author of The Science of Jurassic World. Accessible science for all ages: This show uses clear, engaging language and visuals to make complex topics approachable, so audiences of all ages can get involved.
Active audiences: Whether testing their dinosaur knowledge, volunteering for demonstrations or Joining in with raps, all audience members have an opportunity to interact.
Well known and popular: The show is based on a movie franchise and has already toured Northern Ireland and seen success in Norwich, Swansea and Wrexham Science Festivals.
Optional book signing of 'The Science of Jurassic World’.
Adults: £4
Under-18s: Free!
Join aerospace engineer, creator and judge of Netflix's Baking Impossible, Andrew Smyth, on an edible exploration of the engineering that helps us safely travel around the planet. With audience tasters and live demonstrations, this fast-paced family show takes you on a journey via sea, road and sky to discover what baking can tell us about cutting-edge engineering. From the secrets of edible boats to a deliciously survivable crash test, expect to have your curiosity whisked up!
Adults: £4
Under-18s: Free!
Adults: £3
Under-18s: Free!
He’ll be answering questions like: How big is the solar system? How puny is Pluto? How cold is a crater? What’s the smelliest planet?
Caution: contains facts of a humorous nature.
Featuring raps written for the BBC, this show is both informative and entertaining. Jon is one of the UK’s foremost proponents of Science Raps. His raps have featured on BBC Bitesize, CBeebies’ Rhyme Rocket, CBBC’s Space Hoppers, ITV's Game of Talents and Channel 4 Learning.
Families can bring younger children at own discretion.
Adults: £4
Under-18s: Free!
Get your grove on!
This fun dance performance from Dance Roots African playfully explore dance evolution by combining traditional African dance with simple moves from modern hip-hop!
Get your grove on!
This fun dance performance from Dance Roots African playfully explore dance evolution by combining traditional African dance with simple moves from modern hip-hop!
Half a kilometre under the ice of the Antarctic coast, Dr Autun Purser and colleagues discovered fish protecting eggs in submarine nests over a vast area, 240 sq km of the seafloor. Their specially designed, remotely operated deep-sea sled had triumphed. And the fish nests were only the start. They are returning to the Antarctic ice on the German ice breaker with new kit and are giving the Festival of Tomorrow an exclusive live insight into science at the world’s most remote and vulnerable environment. Expect a guided tour of the ship, too!
Roland Pease, Swindon-based BBC science journalist will lead the questions
Dr Autun Purser, Alfred Wegener Institute [live from Antarctica]
Dr Lisa Chakrabarti, Nottingham University [live from Notttingham]
Under-18s: Free!
We're excited that Swindon Arts Centre is hosting this great event to complement the Festival!
Fusing the mystery of magic with wondrous and miraculous feats of science. Hang on to your seats and experience a non-stop action packed interactive magical science show with experiments and magic that will capture the imagination.
Join Top Secret as they go on a High Voltage Adventure! Top Secret is a fast-moving, colourful, magical science show filled with mystery, suspense, and lots and lots of mess!
Adults £17
Children £14
Storyteller Carl Gough’s show Nexus, blends myth, personal narrative and true story. From rural Wales to the wilderness of the Florida Everglades, you will encounter vivid true-life stories that saved this natural wonder. Unrelated events connect to reveal the greatest of consequences from the smallest of actions. A story of hope in our troubled times.
This is a one-man storytelling show organised by local voluntary arts organisation Forging Fantastical. @forgingfantastical
Age advisory 16+ due to complexity.
Carl Gough
Carl has been a Warden for a National Park and is experienced in environmental education. Carl is committed to exploring the application and use of storytelling approaches that empower individuals to make positive change, particularly regarding environmental issues.
Carl believes that whilst large scale National and International action is a vital part of what needs to happen to address the environmental crisis, the urgency for change makes individual actions and attitudes a vital part of the equation. This has led him to the development of his storytelling show, ‘Nexus’.
The Wyvern Theatre will be opening its doors for a morning of fantastic, free family fun! With theatre tours, crafts, games, workshops and competitions, they’ll be something for everyone.
Come and experience the Science behind live Theatre!
Time for the audience to take charge. Five working scientists subject themselves to interrogation by the audience, with trials of Science Fact vs Fiction. Hosted by literal and professional nanochemist, Dr Suze Kundu, in this show the scientists will compete to get your votes by answering your questions truthfully and trash-talking the others. Suitable for ages 8 - 80. No bugs are harmed in the production of this event.
Adults:£3
Under-18s: Free!
image credit: Alice Degrassi
Half a kilometre under the ice of the Antarctic coast, Dr Autun Purser and colleagues discovered fish protecting eggs in submarine nests over a vast area, 240 sq km of the seafloor. Their specially designed, remotely operated deep-sea sled had triumphed. And the fish nests were only the start. They are returning to the Antarctic ice on the German ice breaker with new kit and are giving the Festival of Tomorrow an exclusive live insight into science at the world’s most remote and vulnerable environment. Expect a guided tour of the ship, too!
Roland Pease, Swindon-based BBC science journalist will lead the questions
Dr Autun Purser, Alfred Wegener Institute [live from Antarctica]
Dr Lisa Chakrabarti, Nottingham University [live from Notttingham]
We are driven by a mission to inspire, inform and entertain communities across Swindon and the UK, to share the knowledge, research and creativity to help shape our future.
This is only possible with the support of our sponsors, partners, funders, and exhibitors.
Our Festival Schools' programme reaches thousands of local school students every year, thanks to the support of our funders and partners.
If you are a teacher at a Swindon or WHFT school, find out more here.
Become a Festival Volunteer and get right to the heart of the fun.
Join our friendly team and make new connections.
Be the smiling face that helps our visitors relax and enjoy their day.
Keep an eye out for volunteer applications opening this autumn!
We are driven by a mission to inspire, inform and entertain communities across Swindon and the UK.
This is only possible with the support of our donors, partners, funders, exhibitors and volunteers.
Find out out you can support us here.
We love to see your highlights of your favourite moments a the festival each year, so make sure you post yours and tag us on social media, using #FestivalOfTomorrow
Here are a few of our favourite moments!
