Sean M Elliott

**UPDATE** Now that the campaign has finished, find out more about Rough Science: LIFE at www.roughscience.com.au

My name is Sean, and my campaign is raising money to put on a live science stage show for the Melbourne Fringe 2014.  Called "Rough Science: LIFE", the show has had it debut at the Adelaide Fringe earlier this year.  I would be proud to put it on in my home town!

The show explores science's story about the origins of life.  It is split into four acts, and in each I tell a story:

o  Fossil hunter Mary Anning, who told the gentlemen of the Royal Society in the 1800s a thing or two about past animals;
o  Polymath Robert Hooke, a severe curmudgeon who was interested in everything, and invented the word "ERMAHGERD" 400 years before its common use*; (* This fact may not actually be a fact.)
o  Two chemists, Miller and Urey, who started a world inside a bottle.

Theses stories span the last four hundred years, and are linked in the final act where the story of life emerges.  And it's not alone; sprinkled though out science's story are tales from different cultures as to how they imagined the beginning of life on Earth.

It's a show that's epic in scope, passionate in execution, and rough in presentation.  The story is told using old school multimedia, with easels, large models, and retro equipment.

I am currently refining the show for Melbourne Fringe, cutting the dead parts, adding new demos.  This is a show I am passionate about, and here is where I need your help.
** UPDATE **
Rough Science Ticket Pre-purchase.
I have had a number of enquires about getting tickets for the show in conjunction with supporting the Pozible campaign.  I am doing ticket pre-purchasing through this page.  All you need to do is:
1.  Contribute the amount for the tickets you would like to purchase.  Ticket prices are $21 FULL, $18 CONC.
2.  Include with your contribution a note saying which night you are purchasing the tickets for.  THU 18 SEP, FRI 19 SEP, SAT 20 SEP.  All shows begin at 6pm.
When the campaign is finished, I will email the tickets to you.

Your contributions will be used in three areas: venue, props, and marketing.

Venue
The show will be taking place at Tuxedo Cat, 17-23 Will St, Melbourne.  Hiring the space for the performances and rehearsals, as well as hiring an AUSLAN Interpreter for the final night:  $540

Props
There are a number of new demonstrations, and upgrades to existing ones.  This includes a more durable model of a living cell (one metre across), plaster models of ancient fossils, and a slide projector and lenses for a demonstration about optics.  I've made a rough (heh) calculation of the materials I need and am budgeting $210.

Printing and marketing
Flyers, programs, and posters have a budget of $350.

A total budget $1100.

My critical challenge will be budgeting my time between now and opening night.  There are many new and refreshed parts of this show compared to the original version that Adelaide saw.  My time working on this show is unpaid, and to make it how I envision, I will need to be mindful of my work/study/home balance.