The Wonderstruck Rocket Show

If you’ve ever had a burning desire to find out how a rocket engine works, this is the show for you!

Wonderstruck has been spreading sciencey goodness around schools, festivals and public events since 2004 and this is their most frequently booked show.

Watch your presenter guide you through the science and history of rockets. You’ll find out about interesting characters such as Wan Hu, a 16th century Chinese official who strapped 47 gunpowder rockets to his favourite chair, lit them and was never seen again and Robert Hutchings Goddard, the inventor of the liquid propellant rocket who, as a child, nearly blew up the family home while testing home made explosives.

With the help of some large fireballs, incredibly loud explosions, a working jet engine and a 2-metre long rocket car students will discover the remarkably simple principles behind the vehicles that may one day take us to Mars and beyond!

This show is crammed with physics and chemistry, with the main topics covered being forces, energy and combustion.

Wonderstruck highlight links to the curriculum and how this ties in with opportunities in STEM industries throughout the delivery of their workshops and shows.

Requirements

This show is usually performed in halls or sports halls as the presenter needs at least 3 metres floor to ceiling height. The performance space needs to be approximately 5 metres wide and 4 metres deep with a 2 metre safety space between that and the audience.

Any smoke alarms or heat detectors in the hall or adjoining areas into which smoke might drift must be disabled for the duration of the show.

Duration and capacity

For schools, Wonderstruck typically run a 1 hour show with a maximum of 3 shows in a day, for up to 300 students.

There is a specific festival/public event version of this show which runs for 20-30 mins and has a much quicker turn around time.

Cost and location

Starts at £650 + VAT.

Available in England and Wales.