Lewis and collaborator Prof. Rob Pal (Durham University) been working with a children theatre group, Cap-A-Pie to help develop a new play for primary school children, themed around the chemistry of life on earth and in outer space! The play is called ‘Mission Outer Space’. Mission Outer Space will undertake 10 performances in 6 schools and 1 theatre in schools in the North East of England in Autumn 2026. It is expected to reach around 330 kids aged 4-7 years old, with ~40% of those children in receipt of free school meals.
Image credit: Cap-A-Pie/ Mark Savage
The play covers aspects of astrobiology and chemistry of life. Lewis was involved in helping to provide the scientific background which the Cap-A-Pie team translated to the play. Lewis says: “Explaining chirality of DNA to young children was a fun challenge to discuss with the Cap-A-Pie team”.
Newcastle magazine press coverage: link
Cap-A-Pie website for Mission Outer Space: link
Thanks to the Cap-A-Pie team for inviting us to be involved!