Zombie Ant Fungus + Science Panel (Saturday)

Please note that there are two performances, each with a different panel. This page is for the Saturday performance, followed by the science panel. For the Sunday performance including the culture panel, please click .

Join the Ri for a radical new science performance blending neuroscience, mycology, sound & behaviour. Developed by Pestival and a collection of renowned scientists and musicians, Zombie Ant Fungus is a unique opera piece exploring the world of parasitic fungi. Following the performance, a panel of experts will discuss the piece and delve deeper into the science and art behind it.

Step inside a world where fungi rewrite the rules of biology and chemistry shapes behaviour.

In this extraordinary live performance, artist-researchers, scientists and musicians take us deep into the real science behind the infamous “zombie ant fungus” — Ophiocordyceps, the parasitic organism that hijacks the nervous system of ants and turns living bodies into vehicles of its own survival. Part science demonstration, part immersive theatre and part experimental concert, Zombie Ant Fungus Live explores what happens when chemistry becomes communication, and when control moves from one organism to another.

At the heart of the show is a question that pushes at the edge of science and imagination: If fungi can control ants, what unseen forces might influence us — and would we even notice?

Expect a unique fusion of live looping, psychoacoustic sound experiments, fungal biology, behavioural neuroscience, parasitic mind-control science and storytelling, featuring leading performers, scientists and thinkers. Together they explore how chemistry, sound and symbiosis shape autonomy, agency and the boundaries of the self.

Following the Saturday performance, join a panel of scientists to explore the real phenomena which inspired the music. Discover the fascinating research at the convergence of neuroscience, mycology and entomology.

Following the Sunday performance hear from a panel of performers, creators and cultural leaders on the intersection of science and art, how new research affects the creation of art, and whether art can help to drive scientific progress.

Zombie Ant Fungus is delievered in collaboration with Pestival. Pestival would like to thank their supporters, The Royal Entomological Society, School Farm Studios, and Arts Council England.

By booking to attend events at the Royal Institution, you confirm that you have read and agree to the Ri's

Event image by Pestival

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher The Royal Institution