The Barcelona Museum of Natural Sciences seeks to attract new audiences with a live Cluedo show.

BarcelonaThe crocodile has disappeared from the Barcelona Museum of Natural Sciences. There are six groups of suspects, each with a motive for committing the theft. Who did it? Thus begins the live Cluedo, in which no one is who they say they are. Participants, divided into teams, will test their ingenuity through a series of tests, analyzing clues, and defending the accusations against them. The scene is the Martorell Exhibition Center, with the Ciutadella as a backdrop. "If you want a different audience, you have to offer different proposals," says Montse Ballester, a technician in the Museum's Education and Activities Department, when asked about the origin of this initiative. "We wanted to offer an activity focused on a younger audience, which is the most difficult thing to bring to museums."

When participants arrive, they are given a badge and grouped into groups. The director and the inspector present the case of the disappearance of the crocodile, stolen just as the power went out, and then suspicions begin to arise, with everyone seemingly guilty. This is the time to find inconsistencies in the statements and determine whether what they say matches reality. To do this, it will be necessary to ask questions and write everything down so as not to miss a detail. Based on each group's discoveries, new statements will be required.

The activity is carried out in the different spaces of the exhibition Nature or Culture? A view from natural science museums, and will run until July. This allows participants to play and solve the mystery while viewing the exhibition. Through play, science is brought within everyone's reach. "I don't think science is unfamiliar, but rather that it is the language used when talking about it," says the actress who plays the museum director. "This type of non-elitist activity encourages people to learn more in a playful setting." The exhibition is a setting, and the setting is linked to what happens. "Indirectly, you must know the exhibition to understand the case," concludes Greta Boix of Nusos Cooperativa.

Although it's scripted, improvisation is key when interacting with the audience, as everyone reacts and interprets the clues in their own way. It's an opportunity to learn through play, learn more about science, and solve a mystery. Who stole the crocodile?

This initiative not only invites fun and creativity, but also has a clear objective: to bring museums closer to people and make them more attractive to everyone, especially younger audiences. It's a living space where you can discover, research, and, above all, enjoy learning about scientific heritage.