For a long time, people have been dreaming of flying. One day, science and imagination finally met. “Lift Off!” is a participatory performance for the whole family inspired by Farnborough’s aviation heritage. How does flying happen? What is our air made of? How can we continue dreaming and flying, while still taking care of our planet?

Concept and performance: Barbara Touati-Evans and Judita Vivas

Funded by Rushmoor Borough Council

We presented Lift Off! at the Rushmoor Heritage Festival 2024. The show is inspired by Farnborough’s aviation history, especially the flying machines of the early days, such as balloons, kites and airships, as well as the science of how flying happens.

Lift Off! is a gentle, poetic and highly visual performance. Using props and puppets made from yarn, fabric, plastic sheeting, balloons and other repurposed materials, we take the audience/participants on a sensory journey. Together we visit a landscape with a big sky and a curious child, play with floating air molecules, help an imaginary aeroplane lift off and soar through the clouds, and explore more sustainable ways of flying.

Many thanks to Proteus Creative Space and their Performance Lab development programme for providing us with time and space to develop this performance.