Mutant Circus

A playful roving performance that brings audiences face-to-face with the fruit fly and its scientific legacy.

Fruit flies are the unsung heroes of scientific research – for over 100 years they’ve been the workhorse of geneticists, casting light on the role of genes in driving development and revealing fascinating insights into human biology. This unique experience invites participants to meet four human-sized mutated flies – the gloriously named Fruitless, Yuri Gagarin, Antennapedia and Groucho.

The 'Fruitless' mutant is prone to forming conga lines!
The 'Fruitless' mutant is prone to forming conga lines!
Workshops in London were hosted by a range of scientists.
Workshops in London were hosted by a range of scientists.

Attired in fabulous costumes, our mutants chat about their own mutations, seek out human mutations (everything from red hair to rolled tongues), and take part in talks and activities led by scientists and artists.

The Mutant Circus has found its way to Shambala Festival, SMASHfestUK, Secret Garden Party, London’s Columbia Road Flower Market and Cornwall’s Eden Project reaching thousands of unsuspecting audience members.
The Mutant Circus has inspired a unique range of artworks by award-winning writer and illustrator Nick Hayes.

Illustrator Nick Hayes produced a poster of all four of our mutant flies.
Illustrator Nick Hayes produced a poster of all four of our mutant flies.

To create Mutant Circus, we collaborate with Dr Fly.

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Get in Touch

Are you looking for new and creative ways to explore science or communicate scientific ideas? Send us a message! We’d love to hear from you.

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