Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre
Glasgow gallery and theatre where carved figures and scrap-metal sculptures perform in 45-minute shows with synchronised sound and lighting.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Sharmanka was founded in 1989 in St Petersburg by the self-taught sculptor-mechanic Eduard Bersudsky and the theatre director Tatyana Jakovskaya. Bersudsky had been building kinetic sculptures called kinemats since the 1970s, using motors, old furniture, metal scrap and carved figures, and the theatre combined their movement with music, sound effects and lighting.
In 1993 the company left Russia because of the economic crisis. Glasgow Museums bought three kinemats and invited the group to exhibit in the city, and from 1993 to 1995 it was based in the Scottish Borders. In 1996 Sharmanka opened a gallery and workshop in Glasgow's Merchant City, and in 2009 it moved to Trongate 103, a centre for the arts and creativity in renovated buildings. The team also built the Millennium Clock Tower, now in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.
Today the theatre on the first floor of Trongate 103 shows two programmes, each lasting 45 minutes. It is run as a registered charity, takes commissions, tours its work and hosts concerts, film screenings and poetry evenings.
Highlights
- Journey show with Titanic, Forget Me Not, Bear's Tower and Rag N' Bone Man
- Wheels of Life show with the early wooden kinemats made in the Soviet era
- Carved figures and scrap moving to synchronised soundtracks and lighting
- Creators of the Millennium Clock Tower in Edinburgh
- Private shows can be booked for groups
Permanent exhibitions
- Journey – A 45-minute show of kinetic sculptures including recent works made in Scotland, such as Titanic, Forget Me Not, Bear's Tower and Rag N' Bone Man.
- Wheels of Life – A darker 45-minute show featuring some of Eduard Bersudsky's earliest work from Russia, including the wooden kinemats of the Soviet era.
- Founded
- 1989
- Operated by
- Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre (Scottish charity SC023931)
Admission & discounts
| Groups | –Exclusive private shows for groups can be booked through a separate group ticketing page. |
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Ticket prices are published only on the online ticketing page, which could not be read.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The venue is described as fully accessible, with the theatre on the first floor reached by lift and all on one level. Space in the theatre is limited, so visitors should say in advance if their party includes wheelchair users. During Journey the audience moves around the space for the first 25 minutes with some seating, then sits for the last 20; during Wheels of Life the first 10 minutes are seated, followed by about 20 minutes of moving around and a seated finish. Several on-street disabled parking spaces are available nearby. No pets are allowed except guide dogs.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 4+
| Time needed | approx. 45 min |
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- Stroller-friendly: not available
Journey is not recommended for children under 4 because of dark lighting and a sometimes loud soundtrack; Wheels of Life is not recommended under 12 because of its darker themes. A calm, brightly lit space just outside the gallery is available for children who become unsettled. Prams and buggies are not allowed during shows.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Argyle Street station · 5-min walk
Argyle Street station is about 5 minutes on foot, High Street station about 10 minutes and Glasgow Central and Queen Street about 15 minutes. St Enoch subway station is within 10 minutes' walk. Many bus routes stop around Trongate.
By car
Paid parking
A limited number of on-street bays, including disabled spaces, on Trongate, King Street and Parnie Street; a large open-air car park at the corner of King Street and Osborne Street.
- Accessible parking
Trongate 103 is in the heart of Glasgow's Merchant City.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Each show runs for about 45 minutes. Pushchairs and prams are not allowed during shows and can be left at reception. The theatre welcomes school, student and special-needs groups. |
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