Tag Archives: Matthew Tosh

Matthew on tour with LabLive17

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Matthew has taken to the road with LabLive17 across the North of England.

Kicking off the tour at the Lancaster Grand Theatre, Matthew launched a brand new stage show about fireworks, which looked at how STEM skills are used in creating live spectacles in the sky and on stage. Featuring awe-inspiring pyro demos with seamless transitions between video and the live stage, the new show also involves members of the audience on stage.

Yes, that right – young people, flames and explosives on stage together, all thanks to Matthew’s meticulous show planning and attention to safety.

“True showmanship”

Sharron Pearson, Education Manager at Cheltenham Festivals described Matthew’s on stage presences as “True showmanship”, with the “flexibility and confidence to respond to particular audience needs.”

Matthew provided full Health and Safety management support for the two week tour. He presented shows in the first week and switched to H&S support for the tour in the south of England.

He has earned huge respect from science communication colleagues due to his proactive and can-do approach to Health and Safety. Matthew added: “Managing Health and Safety enables us to do exciting things and entertain audiences safely.”

Matthew appeared at venues in Lancaster, Hartlepool, Hull and Gainsborough. The tour was supported by EDF Energy.

Craig Dohring, station director at Hartlepool power station said: “This was a fantastic event and one which really showed the pupils how science is used in everyday life as well at workplaces such as ours.”

LabLive is a spectacular show for Y8&9 which brings all the fun of Cheltenham Science Festival to school audiences around the UK. It aims to engage inquisitive young minds through an interactive show where they will learn more about the benefits of studying science, technology, engineering and maths at GCSE.

Fireworks above the ice in Bristol

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At-Bristol has commissioned Matthew to produce a rooftop firework spectacular for the launch of its ice skating rink and festive fair.

The evening, themed all around fire and ice, will see Matthew and his team firing a display from the roof and balcony of the hands-on science centre, which overlooks Millennium Square and the ice rink.

Matthew is no stranger to science centres; the presenter regularly works alongside science centre programmes and festivals across the country, often presenting his own science stage shows.

On 3rd November, he will be turning his firework production skills to the skies over the centre of Bristol, in what he describes as a family friendly show which will take the themes of fire and ice into the air.

Image credit: At-Bristol/Joe Meredith Photography

Image credit: Joe Meredith Photography

Matthew says that it is an appropriate, but unusual location to work.

“I’ve worked inside At-Bristol several times, but stepping onto the roof is something else. You get a really unusual perspective of Millennium Square, whilst the cathedral looks over your shoulders.”

“I can’t wait to put science into action… on the roof of a science centre. It’s a perfect location!”

The fireworks will take place after the festive lights switch-on at around 6:10pm. It is free to attend.

More information is available here: https://www.at-bristol.org.uk/event/millennium-square-festive-fair-firework-special or by visiting the event Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1725241424466238/

Matthew to headline at British Science Festival Beach Party

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Matthew Tosh will be headlining at the British Science Festival Beach Party on 9th September.

Matthew at workIn his most ambitious project to date, Matthew takes over a Swansea beach and a rugby ground to stage a spectacular large-scale demonstration of creative science.

It’s big science and it is guaranteed to thrill.

Add in the beach party atmosphere and this can only be an evening of science communication with a difference.

Up in the air

Matthew will stage live and full-scale demonstrations to explain how chemistry, physics and engineering combine to create firework displays. But this is not an ordinary lecture or stage show with table-top demonstrations; Matthew will be using a nearby rugby ground to physically launch some of his demonstrations hundreds of metres into the air for his audience to see.

And then, in true Tosh-style, he brings the entire ensemble of science, maths and engineering together by unleashing a fully-choreographed musical firework display.Matthew on stage

Matthew’s creation forms the centrepiece of the chemistry-themed Beach Party, providing an energetic finale to the British Science Festival and an exciting opener for the Family Fringe weekend.

Expect to witness the chemistry of colour and light, feel the physical demonstrations of shockwaves and learn how designers use maths to exploit these properties in conjunction with cutting-edge digital control systems.

Matthew is renowned for his dramatic, informative and entertaining stage shows. He draws on over eleven years of professional fireworks and broadcasting experience to present his unique wow-factor shows that engage and inspire audiences of all ages.

Matthew Tosh on stageKeen to reach out to a non-traditional science festival audience, Matthew was quick to rise to the challenge of a beach party when he was first approached by the British Science Association earlier in the year.

“I’ve had a similar idea brewing for a while, not least because I have done several November displays on a beach. So why not create a large-scale science demonstration on a beach instead?”

The event is FREE to attend thanks to generous support by The Royal Society of Chemistry, but you’ll need to register for entry to the party using the link below.

Tickets and registration information: https://www.britishsciencefestival.org/event/the-beach-party

The British Science Festival, hosted by Swansea University and supported by Siemens, takes place between 6 – 9 September, with events on campus and across the city of Swansea. You can find out more about the festival and what’s on by visiting the British Science Festival website.

British Firework Championships 2015

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British Firework ChampionshipsThe British Firework Championships take place this week and Matthew has been invited to be on the crew for the Gala Fireworks competition display.

A regular face at the annual Plymouth event, both as a supporter and participant, Matthew has crewed on several competition shows to date. He is favoured for his logical, calm, focussed approach and attention to detail under high-pressured competition scenarios.

Matthew said: “It is a strong line-up this year and competition is going to be stiff. I’m looking forward to working with Gala Fireworks.”

The teams competing in this year’s competition are:

Tuesday 18th August

  1. Phoenix Fireworks
  2. Spyrotechnics
  3. Essex Pyrotechnics

Wednesday 19th August

  1. Fantastic Fireworks
  2. Gala Fireworks
  3. 1st Galaxy Fireworks

Each company is required to fire a ten-minute display and is judged on various aspects of the display including the artistry, use of effects, timing, safety and even the actual rigging.

The shows are fired from Mount Batten breakwater and the main viewing area is on the Hoe. It’s a free event and more information can be found by visiting www.britishfireworks.co.uk/bang.

Matthew to host election results coverage in Bristol

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Matthew in radio studioWith the general election upon us, Matthew will be hosting an election night special on local radio in Bristol.

He’ll anchor a discussion and results show through the night from 10pm until breakfast, featuring interviews, reactions, live links with reporters at the counting centres across the city and examing the national picture as results come in from around the UK.

Matthew is well known for thriving on live performance situations and broadcast. Speaking earlier today, he said: “This is going to be an exciting night. It’s one of the most unpredictable elections in living memory and this, in turn, adds an extra layer of excitement to a live broadcast.”

BCfm Station Manager, Patrick Hart, approached Matthew with the broadcast proposal in early March.

Although most people know Matthew for his event and pyrotechnics work, he is no stranger to marathon live broadcasts. He has presented live web-streamed coverage of the National Twelve Bell Final for the past two years to a global audience.

The election night broadcast starts at 22:00 on 7th May. It will be available across Bristol on 93.2FM, online via www.bcfmradio.com and simulcast with www.piratenationradio.com.