Image by Bernard CaleoThere are candles on birthday cakes, candles in churches and candles at romantic dinners. It seems that unless there’s a power failure, candles are restricted to ceremony and set dressing. Of course it was not always this way. A candle represents some of humanity’s deepest needs and greatest achievements. We need warmth and we need light and with a candle we have that energy in our hand, we can carry light into darkness.

There is beauty and awe in a candle; the vulnerability of the flame, the power of the fire, and intrigue of holding this paradox in our hand. We have known this fascination since the first wick was ignited. More than 150 years ago Michael Faraday saw it too, but he saw so much more.

Faraday used the candle as the inspiration – indeed as the central character – of a series of six lectures at the Royal Institution, 'The Chemical History of a Candle'. Currently I am very happily directing a piece of theatre inspired by and based on Michael Faraday’s Christmas Lectures. Faraday was a fine science communicator, one who could see profound truths in the most humble of moments. He was a man who recognised the splendour of a good experiment and the power of a good question.

‘Faraday’s Candle’ is being produced by re-science and will be performed by Bernard Caleo, one of Melbourne’s most charismatic actors. It is a been a pleasure working with him, as always. We hope the show will be performed at various venues around Victoria in the coming months, but it all begins at St Paul’s Cathedral (corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets) on 20 and 21 May. Bookings are via Eventarc and I would encourage you to join us.