Jon Spooner Interview
Posted by Guest Writer on Thu, 22 Apr 2010.
The Jitty caught up with Artistic Director Jon Spooner to talk to him about his funny and enigmatic show The Ethics of Progress which will see him shed light on quantum physics and teleportation in a 60-minute jargon-free performance.
Unlimited Theatre returns to Leicester’s Curve this Thursday (April 22) with a theatrical presentation set to explore the actual, imagined, ethical, political, religious and philosophical impacts of leading edge research in quantum physics.
We last saw Unlimited Theatre, with their co-production with Curve, The Moon, The Moon. The Ethics of Progress is a chance for the audience to get to grips with a mind-boggling scientific process in an easily digestible form.
Spooner, who wrote the show and performs in this one man piece, developed the idea after speaking to Professor Vlkato Vedral.
“The show will give you a whistle-stop tour of quantum physics. Last year, I spoke to the professor while doing some research for another show. He took me into his office and began to talk about teleportation and I saw a new challenge”, said Spooner.
He added, “If you’re 7 years old and you’re told about teleportation I think it would be more believable because everything is new at that stage. But now, learning about teleportation aged 36 it just alters the way you look at the world”.
Spooner says the show is only a taster but at the end of each performance he invites the audience to grab a drink and come back to their seats for an after-show discussion. He said, “This is great part of the tour because I’m always asked fascinating questions by people who clearly have an interest in this sort of thing.
“I’ve had some audience members come up to me afterwards and say they now feel their eyes have been opened to a new world and this is great.”
Following the show, which will run at Curve from Thursday, April 22, till Saturday, April 24, Spooner will be working with partners such as the European Astronauts Centre on a space travel show for children.
Unlimited Theatre, also hopes to develop a musical for next year.
Spooner said, “I’m really looking forward to coming back to Leicester and working at Curve again. It’s a great venue and we hope to work with them for many years.”
Performances at 7.45pm with a Thursday and Saturday matinee at 2.15pm. Tickets cost £12-£15. £9 for under 18s. For more information or to book tickets visit www.curveonline.co.uk or phone 0116 242 3595.
By Jemma Crowston, photos by Ed Collier