One million volts hits the stage

A million-volt bolt of lightning has been created on stage for the first time, says the physicist behind The Theatre of Science, which opens today.

The show at the Soho Theatre and Writers' Centre is aimed at illustrating the wonder of nature. Its finale involves a man being encased in a coffinshaped cage which absorbs the bolt after it has flown between two transformer coils.

Physicist Simon Singh and psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman are behind the spectacle. Professor Wiseman, 38, said: "We want to get people excited about science by doing something quite spectacular and potentially dangerous.

"It's not dangerous to the audience because they are outside a safety zone. If the physics hold up, it should be safe."

The pair negotiated insurance for the show of £12 million.

Mr Singh, describing being in the cage, said: "I just try to dislocate myself from what is going on and focus on staying perfectly still and tuning out for those 30 seconds when you have got lightning bolts running here, there and everywhere."