Latitude Festival announces new science-themed stage with acts including Reece Shearsmith and Dr Helen Czerski
A popular Suffolk festival will debut a science-themed arena at its 2025 event.
Latitude Festival said its Cosmic Shambles Forest offered a ‘bold and wondrous new space’ for event-goers to enjoy.
Merging a science festival with a book club, comedy club, music gig and interactive museum all in one, it marks the latest addition to the four-day festival, set to take place from June 24 to 27 at Henham Park, near Southwold.
The space was founded by comedian and writer Robin Ince and Trent Burton from the Cosmic Shambles Network.
The space will host to live shows, podcasts, and documentaries, such as teaching particle physics through stand-up comedy or puppetry about space dogs.
Melvin Benn, the festival’s founder, described the new addition as a genuine thrill.
He said: “It’s a whole new arena filled with ideas, conversation, unexpected experiences, and world-class talent.
“There’s nowhere else that brings together oceanographers, comedians, astrophysicists, musicians, poets, and puppet dogs in quite the same way. This is something truly special for 2025.”
At the heart of the forest will be The Apollo, the stage. It will also feature a café, a bar, a bookshop, and a cluster of Discovery Sheds where festival-goers can get hands-on with exhibits.
Taking to the stage are a mix of comedians, science educators and performers, including Dr Helen Czerski, Reece Shearsmith and Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock.
Trent Burton, co-founder of the Cosmic Shambles Network Producer, said Latitude was one of the best events on his calendar.
“We are beyond thrilled to have our own stage, and area no less, for the 2025 edition,” he said.
“We’re going to bring our unique flavour to the forest over the whole weekend, so expect all manner of science, comedy, music, poetry, literature and all other manner of culture and counter-culture mashed together to create a whole host of special one-off events.
“We’ll have a few special surprises in store as well.”
The list of those featuring is:
► Robin Ince
► Dr Helen Czerski
► Reece Shearsmith
► Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock
► Professor Chris Lintott
► Professor Chris Jackson
► Dr Erica McAlister
► David McAlmont
► Bec Hill
► Professor Kevin Fong
► Dr Camilla Pang
► Dr Clara Nellist
► Dr Suze Kundu
► Joanna Neary
► Professor Pragya Agarwal
► Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell
► Lewis Hancox
► Subhadra Das
► Nikesh Shukla
► Dr Suzi Gage
► Steve Pretty
► Professor David Ho
► Lucia Osborne-Crowley
► Vanessa Ruck (The Girl on a Bike)
► Trent Burton
► Lori Hopkins
► Mama G
More will be announced at a later date.
