PROJECTS > AT THE END OF EVERYTHING ELSE - UNICORN THEATRE
At the End of Everything Else, a captivating children’s' theatre performance written and directed by award-winning Mark Arends, was performed with puppetry, animation, sound and only the performers' collective energy to generate all the power needed for the show. We engineered the bicycle generators for the production at the Unicorn Theatre, collaborating with animator John Horabin and the talented cast to create a unique theatre experience, which received rave reviews across the UK.
"Engineer Colin Tonks and Electric Pedals bring new meaning to the term physical theatre by having an on-stage team pedalling static bikes generating the electricity to power this production for over-eights. A bright idea, indeed, to spark enthusiasm in an audience..." Ronnie Haydon, The Stage
Installation
A team of performers pedalled on stage throughout the show, generating all the electricity needed to run it
Bicycle generators powered lighting, sound, animation and projection in real time
The energy system was designed to sit visibly within the performance, not hidden backstage
Built in close collaboration with director Mark Arends, animator John Horabin and the cast
Installed at Unicorn Theatre, London
No mains power. No generators. The show only worked if people kept pedalling
Impact
The audience could see where the power was coming from and who was creating it
Energy became part of the story rather than something invisible
Young theatre-goers experienced electricity as effort, movement and teamwork
The physical act of pedalling added tension and presence to the performance
Critics responded to the originality of the concept, praising the way engineering and theatre were intertwined
Outcome
Delivered reliable live power across the full run of performances
Proved that human-powered systems can support complex, professional theatre
Created a theatre experience remembered for both its storytelling and its visible energy