StrongWomen Science

NOT TOURING 2026

Performance and workshops for children and families

StrongWomen Science is a circus science show for children and families starring two women scientists turned circus performers. Aoife Raleigh is an engineer, Maria Corcoran an environmental scientist.

Ever wanted to know how you balance a chair on your chin, if you can juggle liquid, or how circus performers eat fire? StrongWomen Aoife and Maria reveal the scientific secrets behind their astounding tricks. In a fun, lively and fast-paced family circus performance, find out how jugglers, acrobats and hula hoop artists use science to create their amazing acts.

StrongWomen Science - Aiofe and Maria spinning water around in front of a crowd at Just So Festival 2021
StrongWomen Science - Maria juggling in front of a group of children at a library
StrongWomen Science - Aiofe and Maria back to back flexing their muscles
SWS Swansea Uni Science Festival, National Waterfront Museum, Nov 2018, photo (c) Adrian White Photography
SWS Edinburgh Science Fest Apr 2019 photo credit Ian Georgeson. Courtesy of Circus250
StrongWomen Science - Aiofe and Maria covered in custard at Just So Festival in 2021

(Please click on thumbnails to scroll through the gallery.)

StrongWomen Science doesn’t only illustrate scientific facts. It seeks to promote enquiry, inventiveness and accessibility in science, making it open to all, in particular young women and girls. In addition to demonstrating scientific principles in fun and accessible ways, it looks at the worth of failure and the power of teamwork, both shared by science and circus.

StrongWomen Science can be accompanied by circus science workshops for children. The workshops enable children to experiment with the science in the show, including exploring gravity and non-Newtonian fluids.

Resources for Families, Schools and Kids – Download these PDFs

Visual Story: For anyone who wants to know what the performance is about before coming along
Visual Story: (Flame-Free Version) for venues or audiences who prefer a fire-free performance
Balancing Tips and Tricks
Custard Juggling (Non-Newtonian Fluids)
How Do You Use Engineering to Make Stuff?

What people say

Kids from 4 to 15 years old were equally enthralled during the workshop, it was fantastic to see such enthusiasm, excitement and joy from the audience. Parents were bowled over at the quality and success of the engagement and show as a whole.

Salisbury Playhouse

Well done on a fantastic event! It was truly amazing, my children didn’t want to leave! They were full of chats about it at the dinner table. Strong Women Science Circus, captured the room and were brilliant, great role models for all.

Audience Member

Thanks for this week’s performances – they went down a storm, people loved them and we got so many first time visitors to the museum because of it.

Museum Staff

The children were absolutely enthralled with the show, plenty of laughs and chances for audience participation (and educational of course, but it was such great fun the children hardly noticed they were learning!). We were all blown away and the children and adults equally enjoyed it. 100% recommend.

Special School teacher, Donegal

We programmed Strong Women Science for 2 school shows, we had a mix of children from urban, regional as well as special schools.
The reaction from the children and teachers was the best we have ever had. The children loved the circus, the teachers loved the science.
The company also offered a workshop after the show that was very well received. I can’t recommend the show highly enough.

Paul Hayes

Director, An Táin Arts Centre
The children were absolutely enthralled with the show, plenty of laughs and chances for audience participation (and educational of course, but it was such great fun the children hardly noticed they were learning!). We were all blown away and the children and adults equally enjoyed it.

Audience Member

More testimonials
All the StrongWomen Science shows sold out, and we had brilliant feedback from everyone who came along (including staff who snuck in the back to watch!

The StrongWomen Science team are incredible, the show sold out and we had great feedback.

Jaw-dropping, informative and fun. StrongWomen Science’s performance was incredible! I loved every minute!

Fantastic way to enthuse children about STEM.

Brilliant – juggling liquids for crying out loud! Very impressive people.

A most enjoyable, empowering event – so inspiring and enthusiastic. I will be thinking of the StrongWomenScience team for a long time to come.

If ever there was rolemodels I would like my own daughter to have – the two StrongWomen would be it!

Read more

Interview with Dea Birkett from StrongWomen Science

StrongWomen: ‘Circus is a great way to visually represent scientific principles’

Read Dea Birkett’s post on winning the Fantastic for Families 2020 Best Family Event and bringing live performance to communities

And thanks to…

Circus250 is grateful to the following organisations for supporting the development of StrongWomen Science:

Photo credits
SWS Edinburgh Science Fest Apr 2019. Photo credit Ian Georgeson.
SWS Swansea Uni Science Festival, National Waterfront Museum, Nov 2018. Photo credit Adrian White Photography.

Booking Enquiries

To enquire about bookings or for more information please fill out our contact form.

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