Prof Alice Roberts – From Cell to Civilisation
29 November @ 7.30pm to 10.15pm
About Prof Alice Roberts – From Cell to Civilisation
A new, groundbreaking, spectacular theatrical production live on stage.
Humankind, genetics, and archaeology
A new, groundbreaking, spectacular theatrical production live on stage.
Who are we? Where do we come from? What does it mean to be human?
For thousands of years, such questions have been explored through philosophy and religion, but the answers now seem to lie firmly within the grasp of an empirical approach to the world and our place within it.
By peering deep into our past and dragging clues out into the light, science can now provide us with some of the answers to the questions that people have always asked.
From the first spark of life on Earth 3.8 billion years ago, we track the evolution and connectivity of all living things.
Join us as we follow in the footsteps of our ancestors from Africa into Asia and around the Indian coastline, to Australia, north into Europe and Siberia, and, eventually, to the last continents to be peopled: the Americas. We’ll meet some other human species along the way.
We’ll examine the sophistication of some of the earliest civilisations, and we’ll discuss how we know what we know and why we think what we think, what the science can tell us. This is the story of us, from a single cell to civilisation.
Prof Alice Roberts said, “I’m thrilled to be bringing a new stage show to the UK in November, exploring the story of us, from Cell to Civilisation. Blending archaeology, evolutionary biology and genetics and using theatrical sound, light and imagination to bring the science to life in a way that you’ve never seen before.
“We’ll be tracing our origins back, not just to the dawn of our own species, but to the origin of life on this planet. That’s four billion years of evolution in one evening. I’m really excited about this, I’ve taken this show to Australia, to Canada, and now it’s coming to the Uk in November. I can’t wait to share this story with you.”
Tickets
Please see important booking information below.
Booking information
Ticket prices:
From £43.64
Tickets are subject to a transaction fee of £3.95
Dates & times:
Sunday 29 November 2026 at 7.30pm
Running time:
2 hours 45 minutes, including an interval
About New Theatre Oxford
There has been a theatre on George Street for almost 170 years. The first theatre was built in 1836, and a second in 1886. In 1934, the third New Theatre opened.
The theatre has been owned by several different companies and undergone several name changes. It is now owned by the Ambassador Theatre Group and hosts everything from ballet and opera to musicals.
On performance days, the Box Office opens at noon and closes 15 minutes after the show starts. If there is a performance on a Sunday or Bank Holiday, Box Office will open 2 hours before the show begins and close 15 minutes after the show starts.
There is a large air-conditioned bar with seating located below the Stalls Foyer, two further bars in the Circle Foyer and an additional one at the back of the balcony. All stocked with an array of drinks and snacks.
There is a cloakroom located in the stalls bar. If this is closed, please speak to a member of staff. £1 per item. It is free to ATG Theatre Card members.
See important information about Getting there and Access here
