John Hinton is...
SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR
John's science communication work stretches back to his first solo show 'The Origin of Species...' in 2009, about the life and theories of Charles Darwin. The Darwin show became the first instalment of a trilogy, known as the 'Scientrilogy' - the other shows being about Albert Einstein and Marie Curie. Between them the three shows have won multiple awards internationally, and all continue to tour. He has also been commissioned by several museums, including London's Natural History Museum, to write songs and shows about their exhibits.
In February 2017 he set up the company Ensonglopedia, which has since produced a wide range of science communication music shows.
Venues enquiring about booking one of John's Ensonglopedia shows should contact Rachel Barnett-Jones on everything@ensonglopedia.com . Enquiries about the three Scientrilogy shows should contact Jo Eagle on touring@tangramtheatre.co.uk.
Here are some of his shows that have featured a fair dollop of science communication:
|
Role |
Production / project |
Company |
Scientific areas covered |
Links |
|
Songwriter and performer |
Ensonglopedia of Plants |
Ensonglopedia |
Botany, ecology, agriculture |
|
|
Songwriter and performer |
Ensonglopedia of Animals |
Ensonglopedia |
Twenty-six animal songs; themes include evolution, extinction, predation, distribution etc. |
|
|
Songwriter and performer |
Ensonglopedia of Science |
Ensonglopedia |
Twenty-six songs about twenty-six science topics, fact-checked by twenty-six different scientists |
|
|
Playwright and performer playing Marie Curie |
The Element in the Room: a Radioactive Musical Comedy about the Death and Life of Marie Curie |
Tangram Theatre Company |
Explanations of radioactivity, X-Ray and cancer treatment and the periodic table, through storytelling, songs, and games |
|
|
Playwright and performer playing Albert Einstein |
Albert Einstein: Relativitively Speaking |
Tangram Theatre Company |
Explanations of the Special and General Theories of Relativity, through song and onstage interactive experiments |

|
|
Playwright and performer playing Albert Einstein |
Albert Einstein: Relativitively Speaking (Junior Edition) - 'Best Children's Event', Latest Brighton Fringe Awards 2014 |
Tangram Theatre Company |
Explanations ofwave particle duality, subatomic particles and energy-mass equivalence, through song and onstage interactive experiments |

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|
Playwright and performer playing Charles Darwin |
The Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection or the survival of (r)evolutionary theories in the face of scientific and ecclesiastical objections: being a musical comedy about Charles Darwin (1809-1882) |
Tangram Theatre Company |
Explanations of various aspects of the theory of evolution using audience interaction, and a summary of Darwin's famous book in song |

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|
Songwriter and interactive museum guide |
The Great Train Songery |
National Railway Museum, York |
Commission to write songs based on exhibits at the museum |
|
|
Songwriter and storyteller |
Six Trees And A Water Lily |
Cambridge University Botanic Garden |
Commission to write seven songs based on plants at the Botanic Garden in Cambridge |
|
|
Songwriter and storyteller |
Three Insect Stories |
Natural History Museum, London |
Commission to write three songs based on entomology research at the NHM |
|
|
Co-writer and actor playing the Monster |
Cloning Frankenstein |
Teater EnKor |
The science and ethics of genetic manipulation and cloning technology |

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|
Workshop researcher, deviser and facilitator |
The Science of Circus / The Science of Little Things / The Science of Communication |
STEM Sussex |
Commission to devise and deliver three workshops, each in three schools, exploring different scientific topics using drama games and circus skills |
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(Prize for scrolling all the way to the bottom: the chance to read John's honeymoon diary and see all the pretty pictures)