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THE ASSEMBLY OF ANIMALS BY TIM SPOONER
THE ASSEMBLY OF ANIMALS comes to the Tolmen Centre for two performances. Part installation, part sculpture, and part puppetry performance, this is an exciting addition to our spring programme as part of the “Festival of Curious Puppetry”. The show, which is suitable for all ages from 3 upwards, lasts about half an hour, followed by an opportunity for audience members to explore the objects used and see how they function.
The Assembly of Animals has been performed widely across the UK and Europe to audiences of all ages and has been part of the British Council Showcase, which takes standout shows from the Edinburgh Fringe to wider audiences.
Tim Spooner is a visual artist and performance maker. Exemplifying the low-tech, handmade yet magical quality of Spooner’s work, The Assembly of Animals is a series of demonstrated experiments, where the performers assemble, reorganise and animate an array of ingeniously constructed ‘animals’ of very different sizes and forms. Magnets, motors, inflating objects, travelling glowing liquid and other mechanisms give this complex installation a movement and life of its own.
Think of it as a series of ‘performed sculptures’ which fuse scientific experimentation together with puppetry. Creating vibrating compositions of living and inanimate matter through a combination of sound, electricity and often mundane everyday materials.
Tim Spooner’s idiosyncratic and unique performances attempt to expand our understanding of the physical world by revealing the inner life of objects. Spooner’s work – usually non-verbal but full of vibrant sound – appeals to all ages.
After the performance, the audience is invited to explore the objects more closely and to discover the ways they function.
“Tim is an artistic inventor and creates this carefully constructed world, the delicacy of which requires consistent marvelling and leaves children entertained throughout” (Theatre Bristol Writers)
“Absolutely fascinating, undeniably bonkers” (Children’s Theatre Reviews)
NOTE: This show is quite abstract in form, and is a long way from being a conventional puppet show. Expect to be surprised…. and inspired!
Performances at 2pm and 5pm

Here I Belong
Pentabus Theatre
Elsie has lived in the same village all her life.This funny and moving new play shows key moments in Elsie’s life and the life of the village. A sensitive, charming and honest portrayal about changing village life and the right to grow old in your own home.
Tickets £10, £8
In association with Carn to Cove
Malina’s Dream
Angel Heart Theatre present
‘Malina’s Dream’
Malina lives with Grandpa in the land of the midnight sun. Into her frozen world comes a stranger, whose ship is crushed in the ice. Malina knows only she can save the stranger’s life! Breathtaking puppets, shadow puppetry, live
music create magical theatre.
Suitable for 4+years
The Last Illusion
Bash Street Theatre
A retired magician and his wife are tempted to perform one last cabaret act. With live music, magical illusions and Bash Street’s stunning circus skills, a great show for all the family.
Tickets £9, £8 and £4 Child
Wurlitza: Diary of a Lost Girl
After two years in the making, the wonderful Wurlitza bring another neglected silent film to life with a glorious live soundtrack. Fast moving and at times shocking, Diary of a Lost Girl tells the story of Thymian, played by the mesmerising screen idol Louise Brookes. Described as a fusion of everything, jazz, folk, rock and pop with a touch of classical thrown in, Wurlitza are absolutely superb.
Tickets £8, £7
The Angels of Fore Street
Pipeline Theatre
On holiday in Cornwall they crashed the car and lost the dog, but had the best Christmas ever. A heartwarming community show made with and by people from Camborne and Redruth.
Tickets £6, £3, £15 family