Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre

I can’t recommend this place highly enough — incredible works of art produced over decades with a darkly humorous bent, they work on several different levels — kids love the movement in the pieces and the use of animal figurines throughout the works but many of them have an easily understandable political or social element too.
There are a couple of 45 min shows every day and it’s definitely worth calling ahead to book tickets as they only let about twenty people in at a time. You can go in any time to see the work but it only really makes sense during the actual shows as it’s Kinetic Art so it has to be moving to show it off properly.
I’m SO glad something like this has a home in Glasgow and I’ll definitely be coming back to see it again.

Quite some time ago, I came across the Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre. Back then, I didn’t know it was the Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre — I didn’t know what it was! — but entranced by the mysterious mechanical puppetry, I wandered into a magical land. This was like no theatre I’d seen before and with its quirky surrealism, I was taken!
No sooner was I transported to another place, another time, with enchanting music and eerie flashes of light. Such is the power of Sharmanka to whisk you off on a journey and awaken your imagination. It’s both thrilling and calming and certainly a unique experience in Glasgow.
I just wish I’d known a little bit more about the theatre before I discovered it and that I’d perhaps got to see a longer show as the one I saw was a relatively short taster show in comparison to the experiences of other Unilocalers. Whilst it was short, it was definitely memorable and something I’d love to experience in full.

And now for something completely different!
I won’t even attempt to describe what the show at Sharmanka is all about. It’s virtually impossible to categorise. There’s no doubt that its going to mean different things to different people. The Sharmanka performance is definitely a ‘once seen never forgotten ’ experience.
If you’re looking for a quirky way to spend an hour in Glasgow this place should be right at the very top of your list. No kidding.
On a personal level this show, starring cleverly crafted automaton sculptures, made me laugh, made me cry. kept me utterly mesmerised!
The venue is tucked away upstairs at Trongate 103 on Argyle Street — the Trongate end obviously. When we visited I hadn’t booked ahead but popped in an hour before the performance and bagged the last of the tickets. I lost count of the number of disappointed people that had to be turned away after us. Definitely give them a ring to book a spot if you can.
The show I attended lasted for around an hour, during which time we were all on our feet being guided around the room. Its not going to be the ideal place to take very small children or anyone not comfortable standing for that length of time in a darkened venue. But really, if you ever get the chance to go, grab it with both hands!

I’m really surprised more Unilocalers haven’t been here, as it’s definitely a Unilocaly type of place! Independently run, this varied and unique display of surreal kinetic art/​sculptures can’t be found anywhere else.
What to expect:
–The full session takes about 75 minutes, starting with a sit-​down 20 minute display set to music
–You then walk around the rest of the exhibits, watching them come to life, again to music (if you can’t stand for long there are chairs available)
–It’s all very surreal!
I’d also suggest that if you don’t like ballet (i.e. you need words/​lyrics to appreciate stories being told) then you probably won’t like this too much, but just for its sheer uniqueness you should give it a visit. Perhaps start with the 40 minute show and work your way up.

The wonderful Sharmanka is a real hidden gem in Glasgow — a visit is a truly unique experience. Founded in Glasgow in the 1990s by sculptor Eduard Bersudsky and theatre director Tatyana Jakovskaya from St. Petersburg, the gallery-​cum-​theatre is now homed at the Trongate 103 arts venue in the east City Centre.
Sharmanka (Russian for hurdy-​gurdy /​barrel organ) is a gallery and theatre of kinetic sculptures. Early sculptures are carved from wood, with later pieces constructed from mechanical junk and bric-​à-​brac.
As the lights dim and the pieces stir to life, illuminated b