RSO at the National Space centre
“Didn’t know what to expect but wow! Sitting under the dome gave me goosebumps.”
“I’d never seen a theremin or been to a live planetarium show before. It honestly felt like I’d been to space and back in an hour!”
“We came with our teenage son and he was glued to it. We were talking about space all the way home.”
The Extraterrestrial Adventure (2023)
“A thrilling voyage through space, science and imagination.”
The Radio Science Orchestra’s The Extraterrestrial Adventure is a multimedia performance fusing live music, archival film, narration, and planetarium projections into an immersive journey through humanity’s cosmic dreams.
From the myth of Icarus to the space race, from Sputnik’s beeps to Apollo’s televised descent, the show traces our fascination with the heavens. Music, and science converge as theremin and ondes Martenot intertwine with piano, guitars, synthesizers, harp, and voice, evoking the wonder and the terror of the unknown.
Performed under the vast dome of the Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium, the production blends declassified footage, astronomical imagery, and references to visionaries such as Lovecraft, Gagarin, Sagan, and Verne. The result is both a concert and a cosmic essay: a meditation on invention, fear, and the human spirit’s determination to reach beyond its cradle.
The show leaves audiences with a sense of awe, and with a reminder that our pursuit of the stars reflects our deepest hopes for the future of humanity. As Jules Verne wrote, “What one man can imagine, another will someday be able to achieve.”
Recent performances
National Space Centre, Leicester: Two sold-out planetarium shows, with projections by Elspeth Lewis enveloping the audience in cosmic imagery, part of Malika Andress’ acclaimed “Steampunks in Space” event.
The Radio Science Orchestra
A hi-fi sci-fi ensemble with international experience, the Radio Science Orchestra takes listeners on a thrilling adventure into the unknown. Previous projects include performances at Glastonbury Festival, TED Summit, international concert tours and various soundtrack contributions. For The Extraterrestrial Adventure, the ensemble featured theremin, ondes Martenot, piano, electric guitars, synthesizers, harp, and vocals. Additional performances at the event featured Madam Misfit, Tom B Wilde, Mister B, and Professor Elemental.