THE Kinks' Ray Davies is to lead the line-up at Nuffield’s FULCRUM Festival 2015, from April 24-25.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural festival, FULCRUM Festival 2015 features world-class speakers, members of the UK's most innovative theatre companies and provocative new ideas and perspectives; fusing science and art in a weekend of diverse and engaging experiences.

Ray will discuss the interplay between music, memory, and sense of self, with Dr Tim Wildschut, a psychologist from the University of Southampton.

Wildschut is part of the Nostalgia Team at the university – a group that studies the causes, nature, and function of nostalgia.

Critically-acclaimed company Little Bulb Theatre will present a dynamic, musical performance-in-development, entitled Wail, which takes inspiration form cutting-edge research into the song patterns of humpback whales. Little Bulb will explore the mystery and motivation behind human and animal song in a cabaret-style performance, using their trademark multi-instrumental approach. The festival will also feature a panel discussion on the subject of the Mechanics of the Hand with puppeteer Claire Harvey, musician and University of Southampton lecturer Matthew Scott, and biomechanicist Cheryl Metcalf.

FULCRUM festival will culminate in collaboration with the University of Southampton to present a day of TEDx talks on the subject of How We Live, which will explore how communities function, how we interact with each other, and the changing landscape of urban life.

Go to nuffieldtheatre.co.uk for more details.