Sam Davison performing at the Planetarium in the Fringe Festival show Copernicus.
Source: Sam Davison
The Melbourne Fringe Festival comes to Scienceworks this year with Copernicus, a performance about the life and mind of this extraordinary and enigmatic medieval astronomer.
Copernicus is written, researched and performed by Sam Davison of Transit Theatre. Sam first presented the show at the Fringe Festival in 2006, but has substantially reworked it to fit its new venue at the Melbourne Planetarium. Performed live on a specially-constructed stage, Copernicus has an atmospheric soundscape and brilliant dome projections.
Sam has been fascinated by Nicholaus Copernicus for a number of years. Beginning with other well-known scientists such as Isaac Newton and Galileo, he realised that their work all led back to Copernicus. “He was the first to develop a system of planetary calculations based on the theory that the sun, not the earth, was the centre of the universe,” said Sam. "Once he made that first leap, a lot of later discoveries flowed on."
Unlike many of his successors, Copernicus was not an outspoken and self-promoting scientist, and delayed the publication of his work. It is said that he received the first copy of his seminal book De revolutionibus orbium coelestium as he lay on his deathbed.
Copernicus’ science is important to the show, but Sam’s interest extends to the man himself. “His secretive nature and personal biases make him intriguing. I think he’s an interesting case to show that not all science is completely rational - sometimes people come up with ideas and hold on to them and treat them like children.”
The last two performances of Copernicus take place on 3 and 4 October 2009. Bookings are through the Fringe Festival website or on 03 9660 9666.