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In this, one of two new shows from the larger-than-life Will Seaward, he applies his booming voice and extravagant humour to the most ancient study of alchemy.  Yes, he really does: there is a retort and Bunsen burner set up at the front, and in his uniquely exuberant style, Seaward transmutes a history of alchemy into comedy gold.

You'll need to knock five times, and give a password, to enter this secret gathering of alchemists (ticket still required).  Seaward will greet you with his usual gregariousness, and immediately have you laughing as you provide assorted sound effects and listen to the most entertaining health and safety briefing on the fringe.  He brings together the personality of a chemistry teacher - that sense of too many chemicals inhaled, and a mind bursting with odd facts - with the carefree abandon that students display when it comes to burning and mixing things together.

And it's all combined with the air and bearing of a slightly incompetent time traveller.  Defying our modern belief that alchemy doesn't work, Seaward will in fact be following a 3,000-year-old recipe, approximately at least.  Beginning with the prima materia (in this case an index card with "Philosopher's Stone Please" written on it), you feel pretty sure that Seaward's irreverent take on the formula will end up yielding something.  First there is a terrifying black stage; then a charming white stage, and finally the mysterious red stage... all accompanied by audience participation, a 400-year-old alchemy joke, and fire. 

As this is a PG-rated show, I should warn you about the swearing.  It's somewhat accidental, and far from the worst you'll hear at the Fringe, but it's worth considering if it would bother your children (or you).  Seaward apologises and "translates" from the Latin - for example "bugger" means "silly" – and if your kids are at the age where you are both pretending that the other doesn't know how to swear, then this "Latin" lesson should be just fine.

Overall, Seaward's show is funny and ridiculous, yet somehow manages to be educational too - even if the biggest lesson is that chicken nuggets don't burn.  It's an hour of enjoyable laughs and slightly strange smells.  And so, although I couldn't possibly give away whether the experiment was a success, the show most certainly is.