Wade McCollum, Zombie Ant Fungus
Described by audiences as “absolutely bloody brilliant, “beautifully immersive,” “mind-blowing” and“ Funny, freaky and fabulous fun for all the family. See it now before becoming a zombie mushroom! “ Cosmo Landesman The Spectator
Zombie Ant Fungus turns the science of parasitic fungi into a theatrical spectacle of spores, sound, humour, horror and inter-kingdom understanding.
Zombie Ant Fungus: The Chemistry of Control brought together science, theatre, music, performance and visual storytelling in a wildly imaginative exploration of one of nature’s strangest phenomena: the parasitic fungi that manipulate the behaviour of ants.
Part lecture, part performance, part mycelial hallucination, the show invited audiences into a world where biology became theatre and theatre became something stranger: a living, breathing system of spores, sound, image, humour and unease. Through expert scientific insight, immersive staging and anarchic storytelling, Zombie Ant Fungus asked urgent questions about control, agency, intelligence, interdependence and the blurred boundaries between species.
What people said
Zombie Ant Fungus: The Chemistry of Control brought together science, theatre, music, movement and entomology in a form that delighted, unsettled and surprised its audiences.
“I didn’t know what cultural entomology was before seeing Pestival’s exhilarating insect bacchanal. But this fungal acid trip revealed that this rare species of visionaries is clearly as vital to our world as their beloved insects. The show unfolded like a lucid delirium — feverish, mycelial and utterly brilliant. Pestival made me lick the frog, and I’m still tripping.”
Sally Chatterton, Editor at UnHerd
“Zombie Ant Fungus exceeded every expectation. The content touched on multiple areas of biology and philosophy and was positioned in the generally tricky territory of ‘science theatre’. But from the very first moment, it established itself as compelling, amusing, confident and provocative.
“There were multiple instances of extraordinary stagecraft, and we were left with rich knowledge and deep questions. As was evident from the panel I chaired afterwards, the audience were energised and engaged, and I’d be fascinated to follow what this project generates next. Pestival’s work is fabulous.”
Dr Daniel Glaser, Program and Curation Lead at Google DeepMind
“Zombie Ant Fungus was one of the most unique events at the Royal Institution in recent memory. As a boundary-pushing blend of science and performance, it challenged and excited audiences in equal measure.
“The Theatre at the Ri has been the stage for many great firsts, and to add ‘world’s first musical performance about zombie-ant fungus’ to that list has been unforgettable.”
Chris Witham, Public Programmes Manager at the Royal Institution
Audience responses
“Myself, my wife and our two grown-up children, aged 25 and 23, attended the event. We all have different interests, but we all enjoyed it. My daughter commented, ‘I don’t think you could have chosen an event that could have satisfied all our interests so well. It was amazing.’ Dad and elder daughter love science, whilst mum and younger daughter love music and dance.”
“An absolutely terrific performance that took risks and felt wonderfully in keeping with the Royal Institution’s history of experimentation and the discovery of scientific ideas.”
“A fabulous event hosted by fabulous people. I feel better educated — the science was very accessible but not dumbed down.”
Mycologist João Araújo, PhD, Mycology Curator and Assistant Professor at the University of Copenhagen, described the event as “a fascinating and beautifully immersive experience,” praising the way it combined scientific fact with art and storytelling.
Writer and broadcaster Rowen Pelling called it “a mind-blowing fusion of fungal spores, zombie ants, science, music, performance, human passion and inter-kingdom understanding,” while Dr Ed Baxter, co-founder of Resonance FM, described it as “a mind-boggling tour de force delivered with virtuoso gusto and anarchic aplomb.”
The Science Panel, The Royal Institution
Others responded to the show’s theatrical boldness and humour. David Keenan, writer and author, called it “funny, poignant, thought provoking and inspiring,” adding: “I’ve seen nothing like it.” Clare Conville, Chair of C&W, declared it “absolutely bloody brilliant”.
The Culture Panel, The Royal Institution
At once playful and unsettling, Zombie Ant Fungus transformed a scientific subject into a vivid meditation on manipulation, symbiosis and the strange intelligence of the natural world. It reminded audiences that we are never alone: the mycelia are with us.
Cast and Crew:
Bridget Nicholls – Creator and Producer
Wade McCollum – Writer, Director, Composer, Choreographer and Actor
Loré Lixenberg – Collaborator and Performer
Ernesto Tomasini – Collaborator and Performer
Anzli Mia – Assistant Choreographer
Gaia Giovagnoni – Dancer
George Linehan – Dancer
School Farm Studios – Sound Production
Adomas Zubė – Head of Technical
Felix Gibbons – Lighting Design
Sophie Taylor – Visual Art
With thanks to:
A mind-boggling tour de force delivered with virtuoso gusto and anarchic aplomb.
Dr Ed Baxter | co-founder of Resonance FM