Abstract
The Royal Institution, founded in 1799, quickly established itself as the leading place where spectacular scientific lectures could he seen and heard, in its specially constructed lecture theatre. This essay tells the story of the lecture theatre and some of those who have performed there, including Humphry Davy, Michael Faraday, and Lawrence Bragg. While a number of different types of lectures have been andcontinue to be delivered in the Royal Institution's theatre, two series in particular, the Friday Evening Discourses and the Christmas lectures for young people, are discussed here. Both series have had a major impact in bringing science before a wide public beyond the walls of the theatre, and the relationship between live performance and science communication, especially before the days of radio and television, is touched on.
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