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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.

Rising to the challenge at Cheltenham Music Festival

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“Is it possible to do fireworks to music indoors?” said the Music Festival Manager.

That’s precisely what Matthew has done in his latest project.

Chelt Music Festival 2016

As part of a concert entitled “Baroque Favourites and Fireworks”, Matthew was commissioned to design an indoor fireworks display at this year’s Cheltenham Music Festival.Barokksolistene and Matthew Tosh

The festival team approached Matthew in 2015 with an embryonic suggestion, citing it as being possibly too ambitious. Not one to be put off by such a challenge, Matthew worked with the production team and the venue managers at Cheltenham Town Hall to create a spectacular finish to an energetic performance by the Norwegian group Barokksolistene.

“A challenge with this sort of performance is ensuring that the performers are not put off once the pyrotechnics start.” said Matthew, following his introduction and briefing with the orchestra.

For many of them, this was the first time that they’d encountered pyrotechnics close up.

There are safety and practical considerations too as Matthew points out. “We don’t want to damage anything on stage and we certainly don’t want to make woodwind or brass players cough during the concert.”Waterfall units

Matthew’s preparation and careful choice of effects certainly paid off. The audience smiled and were visibly engaged as the fireworks began in the final movement of Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks.

Barokksolistene Musical Director Bjarte Eike insisted that Matthew took two bows to a packed out Town Hall following the finale, which included waterfall effects, mines, airbursts and fountains, all choreographed “in perfect time”, according to several of the string players.

The concert was broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Presenter Fiona Talkington clearly enjoyed the spectacle. Commenting afterwards, she described Matthew as “a real pyrotechnic artist” as she recounted the cascades of colour and fountains rising on the steps in front of the organ.

Acting Festival Manager Anna Pickton said “What a fantastic and exciting element to have in a classical music concert. It added an unexpected ‘something extra’ to the evening.”Matthew Tosh in rehearsals

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.

Le Maitre to sponsor flagship science show

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Le Maitre logoMatthew Tosh is delighted to announce that Le Maitre Ltd will be sponsoring a flagship charity science show during British Science Week (13-22 March). The show has been commissioned by the British Science Association (BSA) and Kids Company in association with the Science Museum.

Matthew was asked to produce a show that is a first introduction to the fun, creativity and wonder of science for children who wouldn’t have access to such opportunities. Known for his enthusiastic and engaging style, both with and without pyrotechnics, Matthew is thrilled to be able to help.

A range of effects from UK manufacturer Le Maitre will be used in the show to demonstrate exciting science in action and, in true Matthew style, he has a few tricks up his sleeves.
Matthew with VS flares“One of my aims is to allow audiences to appreciate the broader aspects of science and the skills you get from studying the STEM subjects at school. Many of these skills are used throughout the live events, stunts and entertainment industry, which can so easily be overlooked.”

“2015 is the International Year of Light, and so it is only natural that I should want to include the vibrant colours that Le Maitre pyrotechnics offer, especially with their terrific “VS – virtually smokeless” range.”

Le Maitre Virtually Smokeless logo

“Le Maitre is delighted to be supporting British Science Week at the Science Museum by providing pyrotechnics for the show. We have worked with Matthew on several occasions and he has a great way of getting kids excited about science. The children from Kids Company are in for a treat!” Says Sally Dobinson, Marketing Manager, Le Maitre Ltd.

Matthew will present the show to over 400 children from Kids Company’s London schools programme. Kids Company is a children’s charity that provides emotional and educational support to vulnerable inner-city children and young people.

The BSA is organising the event for British Science Week in partnership with the Science Museum. The BSA wants to increase and diversify the amount of people who participate in and enjoy science.

Matthew added: “Even if you don’t go on to study science beyond school, I want to ensure that people are excited and comfortable by science in use around them.”

Matthew joins One Love Breakfast

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One Love Breakfast logoMatthew has joined the award-winning One Love Breakfast team on Bristol’s BCfm 93.2 and Ujima 98. He can be heard reading the half-hourly radio news and travel bulletins on one or two mornings each week.

He is already a familiar voice on BCfm with the weekly ShoutOut LGBT programme. Matthew says that he is delighted to be part of the breakfast team. “I’ve wanted to do contribute more to my home city media output for some time and given that I enjoy using my voice, this is a great opportunity.”

“The transition to radio has really made me focus on my intonation and pacing. Radio is extremely evocative; the power of the human mind to create images from spoken word outweighs what you can achieve in vision or on stage.”

One Love Breakfast airs 07:00-10:00 Monday to Thursday on BCfm 93.2FM and Ujima 98FM across Bristol and is also available online.