Lab Rats Collective has announced Fish in a Kettle, a surreal immersive theatre experience coming to Liverpool this spring.
Running from Monday 25 May to Saturday 30 May 2026 at Fabric Studios, the production places audiences inside a house party in the year 2050 that refuses to end.
Set in a Liverpool battered by waves and rising tides, Fish in a Kettle invites audiences to move freely through the party, choosing who to follow and witnessing different possible futures unfold around them.
The devised immersive show blends performance, scientific research and voices from Merseyside, creating what the company describes as a strange and voyeuristic experience that floats between theatre and research.
The work was developed in collaboration with marine scientist Dr Marta Payo Payo from the National Oceanography Centre in Liverpool, whose research has helped shape the production’s vision of a city facing environmental reckoning.
Audiences are asked to reflect on complicity, denial and response in the face of climate change, while navigating an atmosphere that is described as both uncomfortable and seductive.
Fish in a Kettle was created by Lab Rats Collective co-artistic leads Kate Taylor Hunter and Anita Brokmeier, who also perform in the show alongside Felipe Jara.
Ellena Begley completes the cast as oracle figure Ringo, who observes and resets the system throughout the evening.
Kate Taylor Hunter and Anita Brokmeier said: “We make work that is political and says something big about the world we are living in. We are passionate about the planet and the many intersecting issues that are shaping our world. but we also want to make theatre that is fun, playful, and genuinely entertaining. Too often, conversations about climate can feel heavy or overwhelming, and we’re interested in finding a different. Why can’t we engage with these issues but still have a great night out at the theatre?”
The production runs for approximately 60 minutes and is recommended for audiences aged 16 and over, with guidance noting flashing lights, loud sounds and depictions of sex and violence.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
