IT was a period when the sun never set on the British Empire, and when the philanthropist reigned supreme creating inventions that were the envy of the world.

But sisters Helen and (Dr) Kat Arney are exploring the flip-side of that historical stereotype.

Kat’s mind was first set racing by a BBC Radio 4 show on creating a toilet for the 21st century.

“I looked at the magnificent Victorian sewers under London,” says Kat, who works as a professional science communicator for Cancer Research UK.

“They were seen as a sensation for the Victorians – but then they tried to export them around the world. Trying to bring water sanitation to Africa meant the countries had no fresh water. As a result billions of people around the world died because of this idea they had to have a water toilet. This thing we think is great about the Victorians ruined the world.”

From that initial idea the sisters began to investigate further Victorian inventions which had a wider negative impact on society – from the introduction of the Christmas tree to the rise of the party drug, and Darwin’s theory of natural selection.

For the show the pair narrowed the options down to four to be looked at in depth.

“There were a lot of things you could equally blame the Georgians for,” admits Helen, who as well as being a touring comedian is also a member of science trio Festival Of The Spoken Nerd.

“Celebrity culture came from that period. But the Victorians did everything bigger and better, to more extremes.

“We have a very immediate culture today – there’s not as much room to look into things.

“I’m all for YouTube and science shows with big explosions – but there is something about science and critical thinking, a way of looking at the world through evidence which is just as important as getting excited about something which goes bang.”

“My catchphrase as a science communicator is to make you laugh and make you think,” adds Kat. “History is often portrayed as: ‘This is amazing’ – we’re trying to get people thinking about the applications of science.”

“The motor car led to personal freedom and Jeremy Clarkson,” points out Helen.

“If they had known that in the future there would be Top Gear would they have still created the car?”

Both confess a love of the period – Helen led tours around the Royal Albert Hall, while Kat is a member of Victoriana-influenced steampunk band Sunday Driver.

“To be able to really attack something you need to know it really well,” says Helen. “There is something in our relationship as sisters based around our own sibling rivalry – Kat will introduce me in far more unpleasant ways than I have ever been introduced at a comedy club.

“We know each other so well we know our trigger points, and what gets a rise out of each other.”

The way their relationship works in the show according to Helen is: “Kat loves wearing corsets, and I love making jokes about beards.”

At the end of the show the audience votes for which Victorian inventions should remain in society with a hearty ‘Hurrah!’, and which should be quietly forgotten about with a heartfelt ‘Bah!’.

As for the future the pair say there is still plenty left to attack in a sequel. And it would be a great format to take onto the small screen.

“If any TV executives are reading we both look fantastic in corsets,” says Helen.

“I’m like the Nigella of science,” throws in Kat.

“And I’m the Mary Berry of science,” adds Helen. “How could it possibly fail?”

The Basement, Kensington Street, Brighton, Friday, February 20. Starts 8pm, tickets £8/£6. Visit www.brightonscience.com.