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The Assembly of Animals

Tim Spooner

The Assembly of Animals. Artwork by Tim Spooner.

The Assembly of Animals is a performed sculpture which combines puppets, objects and scientific demonstrations.

Children and adults alike are invited to witness the inner workings of a laboratory as it searches for life in material.

A series of red curtains are drawn to reveal an intricate sequence of operations  bringing to life a fragile universe of animals within animals. At the centre of it all is the shape of the animal: a head, a body and four legs. The shape gets taken apart, enlarged, shrunk, rearranged into different versions and stretched to the edges of recognition.

“The Assembly of Animals demands your utmost attention even if you have no idea what is happening, and gains the hushed respect a museum of odd, but precious, things deserves. Absolutely fascinating, undeniably bonkers.”

Flossie Waite, Children’s Theatre Review

“It was really refreshing to expose my young daughter to something so mysterious and visually stimulating as opposed to so much of the saccharin rubbish she has to put up with most of the time.”

Parent of young audience member

Adaptable to different contexts, this unique work has been seen in theatres, galleries and festivals both in the UK, Europe and Asia. Suitable for ages 3 upwards. Duration 30 minutes.

Produced by Artsadmin for Bamboo supported through the EU Culture Programme.
Co-produced by TJP-Centre Dramatique National d’Alsace-Strasbourg. Funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Additional support from Cambridge Junction.

For more information on this project download the touring pack or contact Ania Obolewicz at ania@artsadmin.co.uk.

Date Title Venue City
29 February 2020 The Assembly of Animals The Tolmen Centre Constantine, Falmouth
14 August 2019 The Assembly of Animals LasFest Bialystok
29–30 September 2018 The Assembly of Animals Westfluegel Leipzig
21 January 2018 The Assembly of Animals Junges Nationaltheater, Imaginale Mannheim
20 May 2017 The Assembly of Animals Internationales Figurentheater Festival Erlangen
2–4 December 2016 The Assembly of Animals Pesta Boneka Festival Yogyakarta
29–30 November 2016 The Assembly of Animals NuArt Sculpture Park Bandung
26–27 November 2016 The Assembly of Animals Komunitas Salihara Jakarta
22–23 November 2016 The Assembly of Animals Ladang Tari Nan Jombang Padang
24–25 September 2016 The Assembly of Animals LLAWN Llandudno
14–15 May 2016 The Assembly of Animals FIMFA Festival, Teatro Maria Matos Lisbon
5–8 May 2016 The Assembly of Animals Macau Arts Festival Macau
29–30 April 2016 The Assembly of Animals Culture Station Seoul284
13–14 February 2016 The Assembly of Animals Mini Vault Festival London
30–31 January 2016 The Assembly of Animals Mini Vault Festival London
23–29 August 2015 The Assembly of Animals Small Animal Hospital, Summerhall Edinburgh
30 November – 2 December 2014 The Assembly of Animals Centre Chorégraphique National de Rillieux-la-Pape Rillieux-la-Pape
21–23 November 2014 The Assembly of Animals TJP Strasbourg Strasbourg
1–2 November 2014 The Assembly of Animals The Egg Bath
28 October 2014 The Assembly of Animals STUK Leuven
12 October 2014 The Assembly of Animals Cambridge Junction Cambridge
24–25 May 2014 The Assembly of Animals Mayfest Bristol
The Assembly of Animals. Artwork by Tim Spooner.
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