REVIEW: A MICROSCOPIC ODYSSEY Devised by Mycelium Theatre Company at Golden Goose Theatre 13 - 17 Jan 2026

'a thing of beauty and wonder' ★★★★★

At a time of fleeting digital imagery, where more people endlessly scroll, looking at more but seeing less, A Microscopic Odyssey, a play by new company Mycelium Theatre, is the perfect antidote. It’s one hour and ten minutes that will wake up tired eyes and recharge a jaded palette with the power of drama, movement, story-telling, light, sound and music. Directed by Hope Wishart and designed by Enza Kim, it’s a thing of beauty and wonder.

Dramatising the journey of James Weiss, a popular Youtuber and independent microbiologist, who got ‘lost in life but found himself in pond water’, this production is delivered by a super talented ensemble featuring Ben Boulton-Jones as the winsome, vulnerable Weiss. With an early life overshadowed by a domineering, violent father, the solitary, imaginative child finds solace in nature and the world around him where he creates stories and finds connection. He twinkles back at the stars and finds solidarity with trees.

The awe most children feel at the unfolding world is often a passing phase once the novelty is over but for Weiss, it leads to a lifelong passion for inquiry and investigation. Looking through his microscope, he falls in love with Water Bears, also known as Moss Piglets, extraordinarily resilient micro-organisms in which he sees human parallels. They just want to live. Water Bears are “hopelessly adorable” and know how to have a good time - having sex parties while surviving. 

While the aquatic organisms and the passion, commitment and energy with which they are conveyed is irresistible, what’s equally impressive is how Mycelium have managed to convey this on a fringe budget - which usually ranges from nothing to very little. By going back to traditional craft theatre and using the analogue magic of an overhead projector, they create an immersive microcosmos in a modest South London theatre that generates oohs and aahs from the audience. The audio framing of the narrative, which is non-linear, is equally impressive with Caleb Wilson and Charlie Jones as composers and sound designers.

This multi-disciplinary devising ensemble develops collaborative theatre from play, imagination and shared creative practice. For A Microscopic Odyssey, Mycelium’s rehearsal room became a laboratory and the result of this hard work is clear to see. This is innovative, bold theatre that illuminates hidden worlds in myriad ways, and is not to be missed.

The Golden Goose Theatre presents

A MICROSCOPIC ODYSSEY

Created by Mycelium Theatre Company

13th-17th January 20

SOLD OUT

Keep in touch with the company on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mycelium_theatre_company/