"I just want to swim peacefully upstream..." thought a fish from the waters of Virumaa.

But along the way, it encountered a curious crayfish, a watchful seagull, a hungry seal, and several other characters. And, as in life, the greatest challenges are not always those with teeth or claws, but often the ones humans have left behind in nature.

This was the story that the Science Centre AHHAA, a partner in the LIFE IP CleanEST project, brought to Europe's largest science outreach event – the Warsaw Science Picnic, which attracted nearly 30,000 curious visitors.

AHHAA's Science Theatre performed its environmental-themed science theatre twice, presenting a show inspired by the waters of Virumaa, where science, humour, and nature conservation came together in an engaging performance. Thousands of spectators followed the fish's journey while reflecting on how we can keep our rivers, lakes, and coastal waters clean and rich in biodiversity.

Because sometimes, all it takes is a good story—and a little theatre—to help people better understand the environment.