Did you know lobsters pee out of their faces? That’s just one of the curious and fascinating facts blazoned up on screen as we file into Mark Thompson’s relentlessly educational and sweetly delivered show. Thompson, a science broadcaster and BBC regular, has the avuncular air of your favourite teacher, and he packs an enormous amount of kid-friendly learning into a lecture-length slot, covering everything from the effects of sleep deprivation to sonic booms. 

There are plenty of tricks with the wow factor: he makes beakers glow green, lab flasks puff with smoke, and balloons (and his hand) burst into flames. He demonstrates why hydrogen is not used at birthday parties, creates a fire tornado out of a rotating stove, and lets us see aerodynamic engineering in action through the medium of toilet roll. His explanations are well-paced and logical, and you can tell they are pitched at the right level because the kids are able to answer most (but not all) of his questions correctly. 

This is a good deal less chaotic than some STEM extravaganzas and would be perfect for children who like their theatre a little bit calmer. That said, despite his mostly gentle stage presence, Thompson (along with many other entertainers) does like to tease children hard when they come onstage. Some kids are fine with that; others might not be. While it’s all done in good faith, with dad humour, in the interests of adding a little psychology into the STEM mix, maybe the grown-ups should stay the butts of jokes instead. 

Mark Thompson’s Spectacular Science Show, Gilded Balloon Museum, until 10 August, 11.45am.