The Paralympic opening ceremony will be an "exquisite journey of discovery" with Professor Stephen Hawking as a guide, its co-artistic director Jenny Sealey has said.
The Big Bang theory scientist, who has motor neurone disease, is appearing live at the curtain raiser in the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, east London.
Co-artistic director Bradley Hemmings said: "Our talks with Stephen Hawking began towards the end of last year.
"We worked very closely with Professor Hawking to develop a series of messages which are very much integrated into the storytelling of the ceremony. We have spent time with him in Cambridge and have been so incredibly gratified with him giving his time.
The famous scientist will be appearing at the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday night
"Everybody knows about Professor Hawking and his extraordinary theoretical work and writings about science which have made very complex ideas accessible to all of us, but what came through in our meetings with him was the humanity and the humour of him. He is a fun guy."
At the show, called Enlightenment, the 60,000-strong crowd will be encouraged to be part of the world's largest "apple crunch" and take a bite out of an apple all at the same time. The apples will be handed out on entry.
Ian McKellen will appear, performing as The Tempest's Prospero
Empowerment and challenging perceptions are some of the themes of the show which also stars Sir Ian McKellen and references Shakespeare's The Tempest.
Sir Ian McKellen, a veteran of Shakespeare, will play the role of Prospero in The Tempest during the ceremony.
Co-artistic director Jenny Sealey said: "Tonight you will be taken on the most exquisite journey of discovery inspired by the wonder of science. It is about the wonder of science and it is Stephen Hawking who guides us.
"Both Hawking and McKellen in their narrative talk about what we all need to remember; don't just look down at your feet, look at the stars, be curious."