Full Force! Science Show : Celebrating 15 Years of Science in a Van

FAQs

• ♿ What accessibility information should I know before coming?

  We want our science shows to be welcoming for as many curious humans as possible. If you have access needs or there’s something that would help you enjoy the show, please get in touch — we’re happy to talk it through.

  There are spaces for wheelchair users, so please contact us when booking and we’ll make sure this is sorted for you.

  If you’ve bought a ticket and would prefer to sit in the front row so you don’t need to use the stairs, just contact us and we can reserve a seat (or seats) for you.

  Full Force! is a loud, energetic show with sudden noises and big demonstrations, so ear defenders or other sensory supports may be helpful. The foyer will be quiet during the show and can be used if you need to take a break.

  If you or someone in your group may need to move in and out during the show, come early and we’ll help you find a seat near the front. The foyer will be quiet during the show and can be used if you need to take a break.

  The show has general admission seating, so arriving early is also the best way to make sure your group can sit together.

  It may help to look at the Science in a Van and Covert Theatre websites before you come, so you can familiarise yourself with the surroundings.

• 🚗🚲🚏Getting here

  Please don’t park at the theatre — there’s no general parking available and vehicles may be towed. There is one accessible car park outside the theatre for vehicles displaying an accessible parking sticker.

  We recommend arriving early and allowing a little extra time to find a park nearby. There’s street parking within a short walk, or there’s Parkable at the Countdown car park on Williamson Ave, which we think is around $2 per hour.

  🚌 Public transport heroes! There are bus stops on Ponsonby Road, just a short walk from the theatre.

  🚲 Love your bike or scooter? There are lots of bike racks along Ponsonby Road, in areas with plenty of people around. You can also store your bike or scooter in the foyer once everyone is seated for the show.

  However you’re getting here, give yourself a bit of extra time — we’d much rather have you arrive early and relaxed than rushing in at the last minute!

• 🎟️ Do babies and toddlers need a ticket too?

  Yes please! Everyone attending the show needs a ticket, whatever their age — including babies and toddlers. This is important for keeping track of our total audience numbers and staying within the venue’s capacity.

• 👩‍👩‍👦 Is the show suitable for all ages?

  Full Force! is designed with ages 7–12 in mind, but it’s for curious humans of all ages! Family learning is a big part of what we’re about, so we love having children and adults experience the science together.

  Babies and toddlers are welcome too — they’ll just need their own ticket. Please be aware that Full Force! is a loud, energetic show with sudden noises and big demonstrations, so it may not suit every little one.

  Children under 14 must be accompanied by a ticketed adult.

• 🕤 How long is the show?

  The show runs for approximately 45 minutes, followed by a little extra time to celebrate 15 years of Science in a Van together. We’ll have a chance to have a chat, say hello, thank the Van Fans, and generally enjoy the fact that we’ve somehow been doing this for 15 years!

• ⭐ Why are tickets being released in stages?

  We’re using a staged ticket release for our public shows, so people on the waiting list get an early opportunity to grab tickets before they’re released more widely.

  For our 15-year celebration, we’re adding an extra first step: our invited guests get first dibs, followed by people on the waiting list, and then tickets go on sale to everyone.

  ⭐⭐⭐ First dibs: invited guests
  ⭐⭐ Next: Waiting list sales start 5 October 2026
  ⭐ Then: Tickets go on sale for everyone 9 October 2026

• 💺 Can we be seated together even though it’s General Admission?

  We'll do our best to sit your group together but we can’t make any promises. We recommend that all your group is there before the doors open to improve your chances of sitting together.

• 🍿 Can I get food or drinks at the theatre?

  Covert Theatre has a fully licensed bar, including a gorgeous coffee machine, so you can grab a drink before or after the show. There are also plenty of great restaurants within walking distance if you’d like to have a meal before or after your show.

  You can bring lollies into the theatre, but please leave messy or crumbly food such as ice cream and chips outside the theatre space.

• 🎥 Will the show be filmed?

  We’ll be filming parts of this show to capture footage for Science in a Van’s future promotion. This means audience members may appear in photographs or video footage.

  If you’d prefer not to be filmed, come along to our December show instead. We may be filming the show, but we won’t be filming the audience.

  We’ll also let everyone know when filming is taking place on the day.

• 📸 Can I take photos and videos?

  Absolutely! We’d love you to take photos and short videos during the show to capture some memories and share them with your friends and whānau. We’d love you to help spread the science too! If someone wants to find out more about Science in a Van, send them to our website: www.scienceinavan.co.nz

  We’d just ask that you take a few photos or short clips rather than filming the whole performance, and please be mindful of the people around you. Avoid using flash or holding your phone up for long periods if it might block someone’s view.

• 🚪Can I buy tickets on the door?

  Fingers crossed we sell out! 🤞 If there are still tickets available, please purchase them through Humanitix before entering the theatre.

• 🤧What happens if I can't attend?

  It sucks getting sick, and we really appreciate you keeping your germs to yourself and taking the time you need to recover.

  You can get a full refund through Humanitix up until 24 hours before the show, so if you’ve got the sniffles, don’t wait — stay home, get better and let us see you another time! 💛