The Catalyst, founded in October 2012, is a group of scientific researchers who love theater and seek to express the life and ideology of scientific research to the broader public. Our anglophone theatre collective aims to expand the narrative of science and scientists by teaching scientists to be comfortable speaking to the public through improvisation, and to create new media, portraying more co
mplex and diverse scientific characters and telling contemporary, genuine stories. In May 2013 The Catalyst mounted its first full-scale production with financial help from the Pole d’Expression Théâtrale at EPFL. In less than 4 months, the group worked together to build a play, “Puppet Theories,” from scratch using improvisational techniques and ideas taken from the actor-scientists’ own research. “Puppet Theories” was performed, semi-improvised, in English to over 230 audience members during three shows in the Salle Polyvalente at EPFL. Due to a fruitful collaboration with video production company Lunart, a video is available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQkfbOPzDAI&feature=youtu.be), as is a trailer for our group (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbFG-djQT_U). Many people approached us after the show and expressed how ‘real’ it felt to watch the show and how ‘close to home’ the stories were for those with lives in science and the arts. Because it’s fun and good-for-you. Improv has many potential benefits, for everyone but especially for scientists. Typical improv sessions have exercises geared toward increasing one’s ability to think on one’s feet, think more creatively, and to speak clearly and engage an audience. When do we practice? The Catalyst meets weekly for improvisation evenings when we are not rehearsing a play. Currently we are preparing our May 2014 performance: An adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s “An Enemy of the People.” Improvisation nights are therefore on hold until we’ve performed. Email [email protected] to reserve your ticket. Founder and Director
Adria C. LeBoeuf has a PhD in Sensory Biophysics and she is currently a postdoc at UNIL. Concurrent with her scientific studies, she has always been a part of the theatre, both as an actress and as a director. She has directed and produced three full-length plays, in 2000, 2011 and 2013. From 2006 to 2011 she created and directed the Rockefeller University Improvisational Theater Group in New York city, an improvisational theater group for scientists. When she moved to Lausanne, she began The Catalyst, which has been meeting weekly since October 2012.
