Circus of Curiosities - American Museum.qxp_Layout 1 19/05/2026 11:12 Page 1
CITY EXHIBITION
Automata transmission: Moving marvels come to Bath This summer, Circus of Curiosities brings a cast of mechanical marvels to the American Museum & Gardens, celebrating the joy, ingenuity and quiet wonder of interactive art. Words by Dara Foley
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here’s something simple and enchanting about objects that are operated by hand. Not the slick, incomprehensible science of modern machines, but the gentle whirr of gears, pulleys, a satisfying turn of a handle, and the magical moment of joy as a figure springs into life. This summer, the American Museum & Gardens invites visitors to rediscover that delight with Circus of Curiosities: An Exhibition of Moving Marvels – a show that promises charm, ingenuity and a wondersome exploration of creative play. Opening on 4 July and running through to early 2027, this highly acclaimed touring exhibition from the Cabaret Mechanical Theatre brings together 25 automata: intricate, hand-crafted mechanical sculptures that blend art, engineering and storytelling. Automata, for the uninitiated, are nothing new. Their origins are centuries old, delighting audiences with simple ingenuity long before the industrial revolution and our digital age. Yet what makes Circus of Curiosities feel so appealing is its contemporary staging. These are not delicate relics in glass cabinets, but are real hand-made creations – they’re not activated by touch-screens or sensors, but by the hand of the curious visitor who is actively encouraged to pull a lever or turn a crank, then behold, a miniature scene springs into action: whimsical and witty, with surprising interactive moments The exhibition takes its cue from the spectacle of the circus – a world already rich with wonder and narrative. Here, striped big tops and playful 44 THEBATHMAGAZINE | JUNE 2026 | ISSUE 280
performers are reimagined in miniature form, each piece offering its own self-contained story. Some provoke laughter, others more macabre fascination, but all share the same sense of creativity and craftsmanship that rewards the operator when activated. You begin to notice the tiny details: the precision of a carefully shaped cam, the rhythm of a lever, the personality of a painted wooden character no bigger than your thumb.
“Automata have a unique power to delight and disarm – there is something genuinely magical about watching a handcrafted figure spring into life at the touch of a button.” Sarah Alexander, Director, Cabaret Mechanical Theatre
Lucy Littlewood, Director of the American Museum & Gardens, captures this sense of wonder, “Circus of Curiosities: An exhibition of Moving Marvels is a joyful celebration of creativity and craftsmanship. These