Sue Jackson -- Creator of Cabaret Mechanical Theatre, 1938 - 2016

It is with great sadness that I share the news that Sue Jackson has recently passed away. It was Sue who started Cabaret Mechanical Theatre back in 1979. I am not qualified to write a memorial about her life, so I will not try.

What is clear, however, is that she started something wonderful. Over the course of decades, Cabaret Mechanical Theatre has touched huge numbers of people around the globe. It has been a positive force in a world.

On a personal level, Cabaret Mechanical Theatre changed my life. I have Sue to thank for that. And what you, Dear Readers, find on the pages of this site are only here because she inspired me -- and thousands of others -- to explore the world of automata.

Here's a video clip showing what Cabaret Mechanical Theatre looked like after just one year. (The video comes to us via automaton maker and expert Sergio Pinese.)

Sue Jackson's vision and influence have brought humor, beauty, creativity, whimsy, and wonderment to countless people. It will continue to do so in the years to come. That is a legacy that not many can claim. That is a legacy to which we should all aspire.

Thank you, Sue.

Here is a proper obituary for Sue Jackson published in The Guardian.

Paul Spooner interview from the Cabaret Mechanical Theatre archives

Sue Jackson, founder of Cabaret Mechanical Theatre, shared this video from their archives. The clip features an interview with legendary automaton maker Paul Spooner on the TV program This Morning. I love his cheeky answers which are both amusing and completely candid. It's a delightful interview with a clever man.

You can see more of Paul Spooner's automata by visiting Cabaret Mechanical Theatre online.

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