Commissioned by Shoreditch Town Hall and Z-arts, We’re Stuck! is aimed at supporting young people with maths.
An interactive adventure story developed from workshops by Sarah Punshon with maths charity Maths on Toast and a host of scientists, it has a cast of four: Daniel Bye, Seiriol Davies, Clare Dunn and Avita Jay.
Sarah Punshon said, “I was inspired to make the show after helping my nephew with his maths homework. It was scary to see how much he minded getting a wrong answer, how tempted he was to give up if it got hard. It reminded me of myself at that age!
"But talking to the scientists has been extraordinary. I've discovered how wrong we are about how we learn maths—and been astonished by the breakthroughs scientists are making in understanding exactly how our brains work.
"I'm excited to work with such a brilliant team. Because it's such an interactive show, I've been collaborating very closely with Sophie Sampson, our games designer, and Joanna Scotcher, our designer. We've been inventing strange brain-computer hybrid robots, and ways for kids to learn how to control them.
"My sister's terrified of helping her kids with maths: I'm hoping someone like her will bring their kids along, and maybe the show will help change the way she looks at maths homework in future.”
We’re Stuck! plays London's Shoreditch Town Hall from 25 March to 1 April then tours to Burnley Arts Centre, The Boo, Waterfoot and Z-arts, Manchester.
Running time is 70 minutes. Suitable for ages 8-11.