Cabaret Mechanical Theatre

The Home of Contemporary Automata

We have been entertaining and inspiring visitors & makers with our collection of automata since 1981. Now based in Hastings, UK we have exhibitions all over the world.

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A wide range of mechanical delights. From original handmade automata to kits & books to kick start your own automata making journey.
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A boy points at Biodiversity by Paul Spooner. An automata of 20 figures floating and rotating in space

Exhibitions

Our collection of contemporary automata can be seen in museums & galleries around the world as well as at our home in Hastings, UK.
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A table filled with cardboard boxes containing cam mechanisms. Women and children are constructing and playing with the pieces.

Making

Explore our resources to learn how to make automata or sign up to one of our workshops.
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Support Us

We need your help to run our 2026 community engagement projects. As a non profit company all donations go towards our goals to share the magic of automata with our local and global community.
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Latest News

Not Yet by Paul Spooner

Not Yet by Paul Spooner

November 14, 2011
A new limited edition from Paul Spooner. “Another piece that exploits the attractive/repulsive effects of neodymium magnets. The handle turns a cylinder in which a magnet is inserted radially so…
Lab Birds

Lab Birds

November 7, 2011
Fi Henshall’s latest piece The Lab Birds features two birds with an interest in science. The intricate mechanism includes bellows, cams and linkages, which produce realistic bird tweets, and graceful…
CMT presents Automata! at the Allen Gallery

CMT presents Automata! at the Allen Gallery

October 11, 2011
This new exhibition of 20 exhibits from our collection is travelling to Hampshire for the run-up to Christmas this year. Many of the exhibits are by Paul Spooner, including several…
A Literary Feast by Fi Henshall

A Literary Feast by Fi Henshall

September 9, 2011
The latest automata edition from Fi Henshall features a beautiful but hungry bird, intent on devouring the book ‘Beasts’ by R C Bird. Great style and movement. This piece will…
Our mission is to promote engineering and creativity through workshops, exhibitions and automata kits.

As a Community Interest Company all profits go toward this valuable work.

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