Director – David Lampard
A high-energy kids’ show with a gloriously chaotic heart, The Alphabet of Awesome Science rockets through 26 words, each sparking a different messy, sometimes silly and often explosive experiment. Professors Lexi Con and Noel Edge – better known as the Word Nerd and the Science Freak – guide the audience on a tongue-twisting race from A to Z, where fascinating vocabulary meets spectacular science. The order of words is chosen live by the audience at each performance, so each show feels fresh and unpredictable.
Across a frenetic 60 minutes (52 of which are dedicated to the A–Z sprint), audiences are treated to an impressive array of scientific demonstrations. From wet and squirty to fascinating and exploding, the show is packed with inventive, speedy experiments. Highlights included liquid nitrogen creating a massive billowing cloud, and a leaf blower scattering Rice Krispies everywhere. This is science theatre at its best: clever, chaotic, hilarious and genuinely educational. While the Udderbelly staff might wince at the clean-up required after the Rice Krispie routine, the joy and excitement on the faces of the young audience (and more than a few adults) make it entirely worthwhile.
Some experiments are simple enough for kids to try at home, while others – very much best left to the pros, but they are all equally jaw-dropping and the vast majority of them work first time.
Professors Lexi Con and Noel Edge, performed with boundless energy and wit by Emma Bargery and David Lampard, are a superb double act. Their mix of wordplay, science, and slapstick keeps the pace frenetic and the audience fully engaged. They weave in a clever narrative thread, making the show more than just a series of experiments, and even break into a rousing song at the start – proving they can hold a tune as well as a test tube. Inclusivity is also front and centre, with sign language incorporated into the show, ensuring accessibility while adding another dynamic element.
The Alphabet of Awesome Science is possibly the best example of a science show of its kind – combining language, learning and laughter into a truly memorable Fringe experience.
Runs until Sunday 24th August 2025.
