Art What’s On
Tick Tock Marvels: The Playful World of Automata
Venue: Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery
Date: Jun 13th 2026 - Oct 11th 2026
Time: 10:00 - 16:00
Price: Adult admission (valid for 12 months) £15/Under 18s Free
Detail
Step into a world of fantastical characters that move as if with a life of their own. Turn handles, set figures in motion, and watch stories spring to life before your eyes. Every twist, spin, and click brings something surprising, magical, and delightfully mechanical into action. Tick Tock Marvels invites children, families, and curious minds of all ages on an interactive journey into the wild and wonderful world of automata. Explore jungles and deep seas where imagination meets movement, and where art comes alive through science and engineering. The exhibition features work by celebrated automata maker Keith Newstead (creator of the much-loved Flying Reiver), alongside pieces inspired by Gormenghast’s Castle from Mervyn Peake’s fantasy book series Titus Groan. It also includes a wealth of automata from Cabaret Mechanical Theatre’s extraordinary collection and archive, showcasing the history and evolution of this captivating craft in a way that is engaging for all ages.