Sharmanka Travelling Circus
Gallery One - An Tobar, 6th July - 31st August

A travelling circus of sorts is coming to Mull! This one is populated by bears, birds, bell-ringers, monkeys, rats, elephants and assorted grotesques-carved in wood. If you can imagine dozens of these little figures earnestly going about their business, powered by old sewing machines and ingenious use of junk, with coloured lights and set to music,  you get some idea of Sharmanka. With its solemn choreography and each character performing its routine as if part of some huge, wacky cuckoo clock this show is both funny and tragic and appeals to adults and children alike.

Created by Russian sculptor-mechanic Eduard Bersudky and theatre director Tatyana Jakovskaya, Sharmanka (Russian for hurdy-gurdy) is a unique Gothic fairground extravaganza of assembled scrap and inspired woodcarving. Audiences in many countries have been fascinated by its magic, and based in Glasgow since 1996, it has gained a reputation as one of the city’s hidden treasures. Other examples of their work include the Millenium Clock in the Royal Museum in Edinburgh (built in collaboration with Tim Stead who’s retrospective exhibition was shown at An Tobar in 2006) and most recently a kinetic sculpture of St Mungo for the Tron Steeple in Glasgow. This touring exhibition provides a rare opportunity for audiences outwith Glasgow to experience this unique work.

In celebration of An Tobar’s tenth anniversary and Highland year of Culture An Tobar have commissioned Eduard to create a new work using oak kindly donated by Forestry Commission Scotland.

With four/six performances per day, An Tobar expects this exhibition to be a huge draw for families throughout July and August and provide a major wet weather attraction.  In addition artist Sally Pattrick will be in residence at An Tobar for two weeks in August holding automata workshops.

For more information on Sharmanka Kinetic Travelling Circus, visit www.sharmanka.com

Mull's Little Theatre
Gallery Two - An Tobar, 16th July - 31st August

Photographs by Richard Campbell

The Mull Little Theatre was famous for being the smallest professional repertory company in the world.  When the lease recently expired, the company decided to move to a new purpose built centre.  This exhibition aims to record and capture the spirit of the Little Theatre before it is converted or demolished.