This exhibition brings together a small selection of the funny, quirky and sometimes downright barmy contemporary automata and performing machines which for 15 years, between 1985 and 2000, were to be found in the hugely popular Cabaret Mechanical Theatre exhibition in Covent Garden’s Apple Market.
Since rising rents on that atmospheric basement space became unaffordable the collection has had a variety of homes but it returns regularly to London at Christmas to charm new audiences. This year the emphasis on making your own automata, and the gallery will host a series of workshops and drop-in automata making activities.
Admission to the display of 15 moving machines downstairs is free. Viewers can press buttons or turn handles and thus bring to life machines including Peter Markey's wooden wave machine and Paul Spooner's hopping Jackal which springs into action at the touch of a button. There's a selection of new handmade pieces for sale too.