We review Operation Ouch! Live: Quest for the Jurassic Fart
If you’re offended by farting, read no further—this is not the show for you.
However, if, like me and my kids, you’re partial to a good pun, a bit of science, and you think farts are hilarious, Operation Ouch! Live: Quest for the Jurassic Fart will have you laughing so much your face will hurt.
This unique stage production, hosted by Dr Chris and Dr Xand from the TV show Operation Ouch!, transforms the Sydney Opera House into a hilarious laboratory where science meets comedy—and an unapologetic love for toilet humour.
Whether you’re a kid, a parent, or just someone who appreciates the science behind a fart, this show will make your day.
Big laughs and bigger reactions
My kids have been longtime fans of the show, and they were pumped to see the doctors “for real life.” From the moment the doctors step on stage, their chemistry (pun intended) with the audience is obvious. As with all kids’ shows, it takes the crowd a few minutes to warm up and figure out what’s what, but the audience was easily won over after the doctors confidently showcased their family fart collection—complete with sound effects. My 10-year-old was particularly impressed by the Taylor Swift fart in their repertoire.
Kids in the crowd were quickly enraptured, shouting out answers, squealing with laughter, and hanging on every word. Adults weren’t left out either, with a steady stream of jokes aimed at the grown-ups in the room. The show is a testament to the fact that a good fart joke transcends age.
Sign up
Get tailored content based on your week of pregnancy
By signing up, you agree to receiving our Newsletters. Cancel anytime.
A show that’s not for the squeamish
Let’s get this out of the way: if you’re squeamish or not okay with medical “stuff,” this might not be the show for you. One of the most memorable moments involves Dr Xand bravely performing an endoscopy on himself – live on stage. Yes, you read that correctly. Using a small camera, he takes the audience on an up-close tour of his nasal passages and throat, complete with boogers and spit.
The kids in the audience were utterly enthralled by this “gross” display of science, screaming with delight at Dr Xand’s booger and spit strings. Meanwhile, many parents were seen covering their faces – either out of disbelief or sheer hilarity. It’s the kind of moment that makes this production so unique: it pushes boundaries in the name of education while delivering big laughs.
Personally, I was in awe of how long he kept that camera up there while remaining completely unfazed. Even just a simple COVID test makes my eyes water!
Experiments to blow their minds!
Throughout the show, Dr Chris and Dr Xand perform a series of live experiments explaining fascinating scientific concepts related to the digestive tract, demonstrating how the body works – and how they plan to use this science to create the ultimate fart: a dinosaur fart, aka the Jurassic Fart.
Each experiment is accompanied by entertaining commentary and plenty of opportunities for audience interaction. The doctors have a knack for explaining complex ideas in a way that’s both engaging and easy to understand, making science feel completely accessible. Case in point: when they referred to the human colon as “the poo factory” and demonstrated it with a model made from Dr Xand’s ballet tights.
But it’s not all just laughs and learning – the show also delivers high-energy antics. At one point, they demonstrate what happens when you set fire to a week’s worth of farts on stage, and poor Dr Chris gets “chopped in half” in the name of science. I thought my five-year-old’s eyes were going to pop out of her head! It’s a spectacle that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating what will happen next.
Humour for all ages
While Operation Ouch! is undeniably a kids’ show, the humour is layered enough to keep grown-ups equally entertained. Sure, there are oodles of fart jokes, but there’s also wit and clever wordplay that older audience members will appreciate.
Dr Chris and Dr Xand have a natural charisma, and their sibling dynamic adds an extra layer of comedy as they playfully tease and compete to one-up each other’s experiments. It’s obvious they’re having as much fun as the audience, which only enhances the energy of the performance.
Why this show works
So, what makes Operation Ouch! Live so good? For starters, it perfectly balances education and entertainment. The show’s creators take complex scientific processes and make them digestible (pun intended) and fun for kids and parents alike.
The story is easy to follow, the production and staging are cleverly executed, and the props and set design captivate the young audience. Keeping a concert hall full of fidgety kids entertained for 80 minutes is no small feat, but they nail it with spot-on pacing, a mix of laugh-out-loud moments, eye-popping experiments, and heartfelt messages that ensure even the smallest critics are happy.
Perhaps most importantly, Dr Chris and Dr Xand are incredibly relatable. They’re not just doctors – they’re performers, comedians, and storytellers. Their passion for science is infectious, and their ability to connect with audiences of all ages is what makes the show so special.
Wrapping up
The verdict was unanimous: our whole family absolutely loved Operation Ouch! Live: Quest for the Jurassic Fart. My 5-, 8-, and 10-year-olds were all equally enthralled – although the 5-year-old was genuinely concerned that Dr Chris had had his colon removed (spoiler alert: he didn’t). Meanwhile, my husband and I had just as much fun, purely for the sheer ridiculousness of it all.
And, of course, throw in the experience of taking the family to a show at the iconic Sydney Opera House, and you’ve got a recipe for core childhood memories.
If you’re looking for a family-friendly outing that’s both fun and educational, this is the show for you. Just be prepared for some gross-out humour, a few moments of disbelief, and a whole lot of farts and laughs.
As they say… if you don’t find farts funny, you’re just choosing to have the same number of farts in your life – but a whole lot fewer laughs.
Related Articles
Loved this article?
Share with a friend
