AutomataFest 2027
AutomataFest is a three-day festival of automata! It is an opportunity for makers, collectors, enthusiasts, and the simply curious to experience the vibrant UK automata scene; learn from leading automatists, meet fellow enthusiasts and view some of the finest contemporary automata in action. The next AutomataFest will take place on May 7th-9th 2027 in Hastings, UK. Tickets are on sale now.
Venue
We are delighted to announce our new venue will be The White Rock Theatre on the seafront in Hastings. Check the Visitor Information page for more details on the location, accommodation and travel options.
Programme Overview
Confirmed guests for AutomataFest 2027: Paul Spooner, Tim Hunkin, Michael & Maria Start, Loulou Cousin, Oliver Pett, Henrietta Boex, Ryan Jenkins, Mike Petrich & Karen Wilkinson, Nik Ramage, Peter Nash, Tim Stevenson, Sergio Pinese, Bob Knetzger.
Scroll down for more information on our confirmed guests and what they will be presenting. And look out for many more to be announced over the coming weeks...!
A short history of seaside arcade automata
Coin operated seaside automata has an entertaining history rooted in British seaside humour. Machines like 'Is Marriage a failure', 'The Miser's Dream' and 'The Safecracker'. So different from the French Pierrot clowns and performing acrobats. Arcades were also often at the forefront of technology, with the early introduction of moving images, electric motors and relay logic. Its a fascinating subject!
Tim Hunkin will also be bringing two of his early machines which were once at CMT in Covent Garden, The Oracle and The Barman.
Tim Hunkin will also be bringing two of his early machines which were once at CMT in Covent Garden, The Oracle and The Barman.
Tim Hunkin
timhunkin.com
Tim runs two arcades of his own coin operated automata, 'The Under The Pier Show' on Southwold pier and Novelty Automation, in central London. I enjoy doing occasional talk and have done many over the years.
The House of Automata
Michael & Maria will present a personal introduction to their immersive world of automata. Featuring real time demonstrations of surreal antique automata and other amazing mechanical devices.
Michael & Maria Start
thehouseofautomata.com
Michael and Maria Start are well known as collectors and for the restoration of antique automata through the TV show, Salvage Hunters: The Restorers. Their collection can be seen at The House of Automata in Scotland. Michael's 'instant classic' book, The Secrets of Automata: Ingenious Designs for Mechanical Life was published in 2023.
Adventures in the Absurd
Nik will show a selection of his machines with insights into the ideas that gave rise to them and some of the processes involved in making them. There will be an in-depth study of two pieces that have been turned into editions and their moments featuring in film and tv. We will also take a closer look at a commercial Rube Goldberg machine built in a 60,000 square foot warehouse, how it was scripted and designed to tell the clients story and some of the processes and tribulations involved.
Nik Ramage
nikramage.com
I have been making useless machines and absurd devices for over 30 years. I have been commissioned to make a mechanical ceiling for a private dining room and moving decorations for Paul Smith’s Christmas tree at Claridge’s. Much of my work begins with ideas from the everyday and uses garden shed technology to realise them.
Paul Spooner
If you don’t count Sue Spooner, I’m the world’s expert on myself, so I intend to dilate on that subject. I’m bringing some compound objects that demonstrate a number of different mechanisms, some quite tidy and others that are an informal jumble. I’ll also expose a lot of my notebooks to scrutiny.
Paul Spooner
Automatist
Paul at CMT
P. Spooner lives in Cornwall. He made machines at art school and has been making mechanical devices as a living since the 1980s.
Mechanising a Story: The Engineering Behind The Archer Automaton.
My presentation tells the story of designing and building The Archer, an automaton created at a miniature scale. I’ll walk through the full motion cycle. from the draw and release of the bow to the small, expressive movements that make the figure feel alive, and show how the story behind the piece shaped every mechanical choice.
This is a behind‑the‑scenes look at what worked, what didn’t, and how the mechanism evolved. Attendees will leave with practical ideas for designing reliable miniature mechanisms and weaving narrative intent into mechanical form.
Oliver will also be displaying many more of his ingenious machines.
This is a behind‑the‑scenes look at what worked, what didn’t, and how the mechanism evolved. Attendees will leave with practical ideas for designing reliable miniature mechanisms and weaving narrative intent into mechanical form.
Oliver will also be displaying many more of his ingenious machines.
Oliver Pett
Automatist
Mechanical Creations
Oliver Pett lives in the Highlands of Scotland. He has been making automata full-time since 2021. His work focuses on the craft, problem‑solving, and precision engineering that bring narrative machines to life.
Loulou Cousin
My main interest is making movement with simple cardboard mechanisms, and taking tinkering into schools, so that students get to play and learn mechanical movement.
What I love the most is finding humour in my illustrations and creating a story behind every character. I will be demonstrating and sharing my work throughout AutomataFest.
What I love the most is finding humour in my illustrations and creating a story behind every character. I will be demonstrating and sharing my work throughout AutomataFest.
Loulou Cousin
Automatist
Loulou on Instagram
Loulou is a qualified art teacher and maker of things, mainly in cardboard. Cardboard is free, cheap, sustainable, and readily available. She has a ridiculously large collection of precious cardboard and is always on the lookout for more wherever she goes.
Poplar & Pine wood, lace pins, thread, steel wire, motor, motion sensor, electrical
components.
38 x 20 x 20 cm.
So this is permanence
Peter Nash will consider the practicalities of making automata for permanent museum & gallery collections, focusing on considerations around durability and maintenance. He will also discuss the creative challenges that arise when balancing permanence and longevity with the spontaneity and sense of play which are vital when making automata.
Nash will speak from his experience as a maker, art handler and gallery technician, to consider challenges and possibilities for makers and institutions, using the presentation as a starting point for conversations and knowledge sharing about these issues.
Nash will speak from his experience as a maker, art handler and gallery technician, to consider challenges and possibilities for makers and institutions, using the presentation as a starting point for conversations and knowledge sharing about these issues.
Peter Nash
peternash.org
I’m a visual artist and lecturer based in Cork, Ireland. My work is exhibited widely throughout Ireland including recent solo and group shows and is held in the National Collection of Ireland and in public & private collections nationally and internationally.
I have had a love for automata since being introduced to Cabaret Mechanical Theatre by my art college tutor almost thirty years ago. I’ve been tinkering with mechanical sculptures ever since.
I have had a love for automata since being introduced to Cabaret Mechanical Theatre by my art college tutor almost thirty years ago. I’ve been tinkering with mechanical sculptures ever since.
Image credit: Jed Niezgoda
Online Automata Tinkering Workshop Reflection
In 2020 during the early days of the Covid pandemic, Cabaret Mechanical Theatre and Wonderful Idea Co. launched a global tinkering workshop where participants from all over the world got the chance to start building and constructing their own automata. Now the online course has reached around 300 participants from dozens of countries all over the world.
In this presentation, course leader Ryan Jenkins will share some highlights from the course and reflect on some takeaways from the online learning experience. We’ll share about techniques that have helped all sorts of people get started, the unexpected advantages of working over zoom, inspiring projects made by participants, practices for forming worldwide prototyping communities and what we’re excited to try next.
Ryan will also run an experimental workshop, participants will build simple automata that are activated by the elements using windmills, water wheels and solar panels.
In this presentation, course leader Ryan Jenkins will share some highlights from the course and reflect on some takeaways from the online learning experience. We’ll share about techniques that have helped all sorts of people get started, the unexpected advantages of working over zoom, inspiring projects made by participants, practices for forming worldwide prototyping communities and what we’re excited to try next.
Ryan will also run an experimental workshop, participants will build simple automata that are activated by the elements using windmills, water wheels and solar panels.
Ryan Jenkins
Wonderful Idea Co.
I am an educator and learning designer originally from Southern California and currently living in Freiburg, Germany. For the past eight years I've been running Wonderful Idea Co, a playful design studio focused developing tools and materials for open-ended art, science and technology explorations. I was a founding member of The Tinkering Studio at The Exploratorium. I've recently founded a non-profit called Tinkering Freiburg to experiment with new models for pop-up science centers and makerspaces, build up an organic communities of parents, kids and educators and develop new activities and events rooted in a sense of place.
Wave Machines and Sinuous Sculpture
Tim will present on the subject of Wave Machines and Sinuous Sculpture.
This will cover various methods for making wave effects and for making wooden sculptures move sinuously.
Tim will also be displaying a selection of his varied automata.
This will cover various methods for making wave effects and for making wooden sculptures move sinuously.
Tim will also be displaying a selection of his varied automata.
Tim Stevenson
Automatist
Tim Nunhead on Instagram
Makes things out of stuff.
I was previously a bicycle mechanic, a woodwork technician and various other occupations. I like to talk and to show off my work. I am also a tour guide for a Victorian cemetery in London.
I was previously a bicycle mechanic, a woodwork technician and various other occupations. I like to talk and to show off my work. I am also a tour guide for a Victorian cemetery in London.
