Ted Hill Teaches You Science, Most of Which Is True kids review: Fun and informative
The Britain's Got Talent finalist strikes the perfect tone to entertain both kids and adults
Ted Hill of Britain’s Got Talent fame (and no, he’s definitely not bitter about being beaten by a dog) has hauled his test tubes, beakers and empty plastic bottles to Edinburgh for a display of definitely-do-not-try-at-home experiments. Miles more fun than any school physics lesson, Ted Hill Teaches You Science, Most Of Which Is True walks young audiences through concepts like pressure, expansion and catalysts, with eye-catching demonstrations like igniting bubble mixture and the classic coke and mentos combo. As the show goes on, Hill works his way up to a full-on bottle rocket launch across the room, an experiment so forceful that audiences are required to cover their ears.
Hill strikes a perfect balance between educational and humorous, keeping his explanations simple and jokes plentiful, with lots of witty asides to the adults. His stand-offish humour creates a fantastic back-and-forth between young ones eager to challenge him, while his natural affability prevents the tinies from getting too rowdy.
The hour consists of much the same demos usually found in kids’ science shows: small explosions, big flames and fizzing bubbles. But Hill creates a very palpable sense of danger through it all with his scatterbrained persona. Even the parents in the room wait with bated breath when it comes time for him to set his bare hand on fire, making it all the more satisfying when he inevitably pulls it off without a hitch.
Ted Hill Teaches You Science, Most of Which Is True, Assembly Roxy, until 30 August, 11.10am.