Professor Alice Roberts - From Cell to Civilisation
- Date
- 21 November, 2026
- Start time:
- 19:30
- Venue Name
- Cambridge Corn Exchange
Description
Prof Alice Roberts said “I’m thrilled to be bringing a new stage show to the UK in November exploring the story of us, from Cell to Civilisation.
Blending archaeology, evolutionary biology and genetics and using theatrical sound, light and imagination to bring the science to life in a way that you’ve never seen before.
We’ll be tracing our origins back, not just to the dawn of our own species, but to the origin of life on this planet. That’s four billion years of evolution in one evening.
I’m really excited about this, I’ve taken this show to Australia, to Canada, and now it’s coming to the Uk in November. I can’t wait to share this story with you.”
Who are we? Where do we come from? What does it mean to be human?
For thousands of years, such questions have been explored through philosophy and religion, but the answers now seem to lie firmly within the grasp of an empirical approach to the world and our place within it. By peering deep into our past and dragging clues out into the light, science can now provide us with some of the answers to the questions that people have always asked.
From the first spark of life on earth 3.8 billion years ago, we track the evolution and connectivity of all living things.
Join us as we follow in the footsteps of our ancestors from Africa into Asia and around the Indian coastline, to Australia, north into Europe and Siberia, and, eventually, to the last continents to be peopled: the Americas. We’ll meet some other human species along the way.
We’ll examine the sophistication of some of the earliest civilisations, and we’ll discuss how we know what we know and why we think what we think, what the science can tell us.
This is the story of us, from single cell to civilisation.
Market House
Mix and match between vibrant British and Asian menus at Market House — one of Cambridge’s favourite independent eateries, just minutes from the Corn Exchange.
Book your table for a pre-show meal!Accessibility Information
If you would like to book accessible seating, your account with the Cambridge Corn Exchange must have a tag applied to it. Please email tickets@cambridge.gov.uk or call 01223 357851 (Mon-Fri 10am-5pm)* to request we add this tag to your account. Please read our access document in advance of booking to ensure the tickets you book are the most suitable.
Access to the box office
The Box Office for the Corn Exchange is called Cambridge Live Tickets and is located left of the venue, two doors down (next to the restaurant Steak & Honour.)
The Cambridge Live Tickets Box Office is currently closed, however, when there is a performance taking place the Box Office opens at 6pm (or an hour before a matinee starts) and closes half an hour after the start time (or until 9pm for standing performance.)
Here is a summary of Box Office features:
- Lowered kerb providing level access
- Automatic sliding doors to Box Office
- Large print seating plans
- A lowered counter
- An induction loop
- Wi-Fi
Audio Loop
There is an infra-red hearing enhancement system which can be used either with, or without a hearing aid. The system only works in the auditorium and balcony. The headphones and receiver can be obtained from the steward at the Customer Services Desk. No deposit is required but the stewards will ask for your name and seat number” There are 6 sets available which consist of, a headset, receiver and neck loop. There are certain areas within the auditorium where the system doesn’t work:- Rows S to Z, seats 1 to 8 (House Right), at the rear of the auditorium. Rows XF to XK Rows O to R, seats 1 to 4 Using the system with a hearing aid Headphones are attached to the receiver and then worn in a similar fashion to a personal stereo. For those customers with hearing aids without a T setting, we suggest using this system with headphones but removing your hearing aid whilst inside the auditorium. The loop should be placed around the customer’s neck and attached to the receiver. The receiver should remain uncovered at all times, in order to pick up the signal. They can use channels 0 - 4 to receive the sound. The volume can be controlled on the receiver. Using the system without a hearing aid The headphones should be attached to the receiver and worn in similar fashion to a personal stereo. The receiver should remain uncovered at all times, in order to pick up the signal. They can use channels 0 - 4 to receive the sound. The volume can be controlled on the receiver.
Wheelchair Access
Level Access and Automatic Doors (or No Doors)
Assistance Dogs
Assistance dogs are welcome at our venue.