Interesting Facts About The Wider Earth Play

A new theatre at the Natural History Museum has been unveiled for the award-winning adventure show The Wider Earth. Join 22-year-old Charles Darwin on HMS Beagle's daring voyage to the far side of the world, and discover the gripping story behind one of the most important discoveries in history. 

We are ever so excited about this spectacular show that we wanted to share some interesting facts about it. Interesting facts about The Wider Earth play: 

• The Wider Earth features a cast of seven and 30 hand-made puppets representing the exotic wildlife Darwin encountered, some of these animals include fish, armadillo, a glyptodont, sharks, whales and a tortoise. 
   

• The Wider Earth is set on an end-on stage inside the Jerwood Gallery. At the centre of this stage is a large revolve that turns to signify changes in time and place in moments of transition throughout the story. The revolve is made from wood and features several peaks and small landings which allow the actors to climb up and over it giving the illusion of rocky, mountainous terrain, rainforests and shorelines. 
   

• The Jerwood Gallery at the Natural History Museum was restored in 1999 with a capital grant from the Jerwood Foundation to provide a home in the museum for arts and science exhibitions and activities. The museum’s scientists, led by paleobiologist Professor Adrian Lister, author of Darwin’s Fossils, are working closely with the creative producers of the show to ensure it is rooted in authenticity. 
   

• Multi-media is used towards the end of the play to visualise Darwin’s discovery of The Tree of Life and the relationships between organism both living and extinct. This is projected up into the sky with points of light in the cosmos showing animals and Earth-like constellations. A cormorant soars through the air above it. Its wing becomes a peninsula. The ocean wears the wing down. The shrunken wing belongs to a cormorant that soars beneath the waves. 
   

Come and experience The Wider Earth show as a spectacular Natural History Museum events. Book your tickets today!