Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre is a performance space at Trongate 103, an arts centre in Glasgow’s Merchant City. Its shows animate carved figures and mechanical sculptures made by artist Eduard Bersudsky from wood, metal and scrap. Music and carefully timed lighting turn the moving pieces into short, sometimes humorous and sometimes unsettling stories. Look for small characters tucked into the scenes and watch how the mechanisms move. The late performance lasts about 45 minutes, with time to view and photograph the silent sculptures before or after the show.
A theatre built around moving sculpture
Sharmanka combines mechanical sculpture with theatre. Its moving figures, known as kinemats, are the work of Russian-born artist and sculptor-mechanic Eduard Bersudsky. He built them from carved wood, metal and found materials, turning discarded objects into intricate moving scenes.
The theatre was founded in St Petersburg in 1989 by Bersudsky and theatre director Tatyana Jakovskaya. It later moved to Glasgow, where performances take place at Trongate 103, an arts centre in the Merchant City. The work also draws on Sergey Jakovsky’s lighting and sound design.
The sculptures range from small carved figures to larger, stranger creations. Their appearance can be playful, grotesque or macabre. This variety is part of the experience: the show can feel whimsical one moment and unsettling the next.
How the performances work
Rather than viewing the sculptures as static gallery objects, you see them set in motion. Mechanical parts make the carved characters move while music and lighting shape the scenes. The sounds of the machinery join the soundtrack, so the mechanisms are part of what you hear as well as what you watch.
The pieces enact stories about human life, including historical and imaginative scenes. The figures and props are built from scrap and other materials, and the elaborate machinery gives each tableau its own movement. Watch the larger sculptures, but also look for small characters hidden within the arrangements.
There are two different shows, with different contraptions featured in each. If you want to see both, check the performance details when booking and allow time for the longer visit. The late show has been described as lasting around 45 minutes; time outside the performance lets you look more closely at the exhibits.
Planning your visit
Sharmanka is inside Trongate 103 at 103 Trongate, Glasgow. Its website is the place to check performance information and arrange tickets. Booking ahead is a practical choice, particularly if you have a specific show in mind.
Leave a little time either side of the performance to look at the sculptures and take photographs. The moving scenes may be the main focus, but the mechanisms and smaller details reward a closer look once the show has ended. Some of the imagery is eerie, so the experience may not suit every child. The theatre is listed as family-friendly and has wheelchair-accessible seating, an entrance and a restroom.
FAQ
How long does a Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre show last?
The late performance lasts about 45 minutes. Allow extra time to view the sculptures and take photographs before or after the show.
Are there different shows at Sharmanka?
Yes. The two shows feature different mechanical pieces, so check the performance details when choosing a ticket.
Is Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre suitable for children?
The theatre is family-friendly, and children may enjoy the moving figures. Some of the sculptures have an eerie or macabre look.
Is Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre wheelchair accessible?
The venue is listed with an accessible entrance, seating and restroom.
