The New Zealand International Science Festival production Bang! will feature pyrotechnics, flames and explosions when it premieres in Allen Hall tomorrow.
"It will be like an indoor fireworks display and stand-up comedy show, hosted by an unhinged scientist," writer and performer Andrew Scott said this week.
"There will be all sorts of pyrotechnics and exploding whizz-bang things. It's an opportunity to see hydrogen explosions and balloons going up like mini Hindenburgs and even for audience members to be set briefly on fire, if they want to be."
An industrial extractor has been installed in the theatre to remove fumes from the pyrotechnics.
The interactive show used the trials and experiments of a fictional North Dunedin alchemist to educate people about science in an interesting way, Mr Scott said.
"It's a journey through the strange, funny, explosive and often accidental history of chemistry. We want to get people along who may not have considered before just how exciting chemistry can be."
Mr Scott and director Steve Ting conceived the play in collaboration with the University of Otago department of chemistry outreach group.
Bang! is on at Allen Hall at 4pm tomorrow and Monday and at 7pm on Tuesday. Entry is by gold coin donation.
The 2012 New Zealand International Science Festival starts today and runs until July 8.
