KONFLUX, the theatre-in-education company from St Thomas's Parish Rooms in York, have been on the road since April with What On Earth!?, a play with the message that we should reuse, recycle and reduce waste.

Slim Parry's specially-commissioned educational piece for Key Stage 1 and 2 children looks at themes of bio-diversity, rural and urban concerns, recycling and Third World issues, and ties in with National Curriculum work in science, geography and citizenship.

Konflux began its spring and summer travels in Northern Ireland, and come the tour's conclusion this week, the cast will have given more than 130 performances in schools, community centres and marquees in North Yorkshire, the East Riding, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Scotland and Wales too.

More than 45,000 children have seen the show and participated in workshops, and yesterday afternoon Tang Hall Community Centre was full to the gills with excited children, who cheered and contributed at every opportunity.

Director Anthony Koncsol utilises the multiple role-playing skills of Sarah Thomas-Lane, Naomi Gudge and David Saltom, a trio of sparky, lively performers complemented by a back-projection screen that facilitates quick and humorous switches of scenery from Grunge Hill School to outer space and back to Planet Earth, here known as the "Blue Planet".

Maisie the Robot (Gudge) appears on screen to tell green-haired Colin (Thomas-Lane) that the King of the Galaxy (a large puppet) has a special mission for the young alien. The Blue Planet has failed its MOT (the Milky Way Overhaul Test) and must be destroyed, demolished and replaced by a Flying Saucer Car Park... unless Colin can tidy up Earth in 24 hours, with points up to the target of 100 being awarded for good ecological deeds.

Off goes Colin with a road map, toothbrush, notebook and teddy in a Coca-Cola-sponsored space rocket that is shown on screen landing cone-first in the North Pole snow.

Enter Colin, pursued by a polar bear with a message about global warming.

Four children and one teacher (issued with a break-dancing L plate) are picked out to participate, first holding blue material to convey sea waves and then joining in a rap with the hip hop-loving Dr Fox (Gudge) and the So Furry Crew.

Animal masks and puppets add to the fun, although Sid the Weasel's Elvis fixation seemed to go over the children's heads (especially the Taking Care Of Business gag).

Post-show, City of York Council arts officer Emily Harvey outlined this summer's Wheelie Art workshop programme in Tang Hall and elsewhere: putting the recycling rallying call of What On Earth!? into instant action.

What On Earth!? will tour again in February 2005 and Konflux Theatre will begin touring a new environmental play for Key Stages 1 & 2 in April 2005.

Updated: 10:08 Tuesday, July 13, 2004