Cabaret Mechanical Theatre is a collection of contemporary automata founded in 1979 (History of CMT). We have been entertaining and inspiring visitors & makers since 1981. Now based in Hastings, UK we have exhibitions all over the world.
In 2023 we set up Cabaret Mechanical Theatre Learning, a not for profit Community Interest Company to run a public space where we can share automata and explore making, mechanisms, materials and creativity with the wider community.
The Mechanical Making Space in Hastings has been our home since August 2023. It is a flexible space to incorporate all of our work including:
- A workshop space for all ages and abilities; families, community groups and makers
- Exhibition space - automata on show, free of charge, including iconic exhibits that are rarely seen as they are too fragile to go on tour
- Our archive - artefacts, sketches and photos documenting the history of Cabaret Mechanical Theatre and the numerous artists who have been part of our journey. These are curated as part of our touring exhibitions
- Shop - we have a growing collection of automata related items for sale (also online). Original and limited edition automata, our own Mechanical Making Kits, books, posters, printers and much more
- An international automata hub - a place to meet and experiment with automata makers, educators and facilitators, technicians and engineers
We also use the space for restoration and storage of exhibits for our touring exhibitions.
Inspiring automata makers is central to our mission - sparking curiosity at the push of a button bringing automata to life. We work with and train a talented team of facilitators who share our tinkering ethos.
We are helping people explore their potential through:
- Play - problem solving & engineering are explored through purposeful play
- Exploration - Learners develop understanding by building moving mechanical sculpture within an exploration workshop space learning about different materials and tools.
- Choice -Their choices determine the goals, ideas and approaches they seek, encouraging creativity and critical thinking
- Collaboration - Thinking promotes collaboration among learners and develops teamwork. Collaboration is encouraged between learners as well as educators that supports the development of communication skills.
→ Play the short video above to learn more our ethos around tinkering.
