The Wonderful World of Lieven Scheire
The Gilded Balloon until 31st August
Verdict: three stars
Ever wondered what would happen if Brian Cox and Roy from the IT Crowd had baby? Well, the result would probably be Belgian physicist Lieven Scheire whose one-man show at the Gilded Balloon lets us into his quirky ‘Wonderful World’.
Scheire really does look like a real life Roy, from his unkempt appearance to the geek chic T-shirt, without the dour qualities of Graham Linehan’s fictional creation. Instead, we have an incredibly enthusiastic man who has a deep passion for physics and is not afraid to share it.
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His opening gambit settles everyone down as he starts off with some light banter in an attempt to find fellow geeks in the crowd - discussing the scientific hierarchy of engineers, physicists, God, then mathematicians.
It is all very light stuff suitable for audiences young and old as he sets about explaining the theory of relativity by describing how to fit a 12-metre rocket into a 10-metre barn. All the while he entertains with anecdotes along the way from Einstein to Fermi.
Scheire’s fervour for science radiates. You cannot help but be charmed by his innocence. There is nothing cynical about the show, it is very much an enjoyable physics lesson, which may disappoint people looking for edgy stand up.
Being a geek is very much in at the moment. There are plenty of cardboard fanboys out there but Scheire is the real thing. An authentic nerd intent on spreading the joy of physics.
Reviewed by Peter Docherty for the News Academy