The MAGICA: Science and Spectacle in the 19th Century exhibition will open on 11 February at 6 pm. The opening will include a visit led by Márcia Vilarigues and Luísa Cymbron and demonstrations of the glass harp by Maria Sempiterno and Francisco Monteiro. The exhibition will be displayed at the National Museum of Natural History and Science in Lisbon until 4 May. During this period, it will also be possible to attend three guided tours followed by roundtable discussions focused on the different areas of investigation.

• 21 February I 6 pm: ‘The production and conservation of slides’ (by Márcia Vilarigues);
• 21 March I 6 pm: ‘Music, theatre and the magic lantern’ (by Luísa Cymbron): Round table moderated by Ana Isabel Vasconcelos. With the participation of Paula Magalhães, Luzia Rocha, Joana Peliz and Luísa Cymbron.
• 29 March I 3 pm: guided tour without roundtable (by Marta Soares).
• 11 April I 6 pm: ‘The animation of slides’ (by Marta Soares).

As part of the MAGICA: Science and Spectacle in the 19th Century exhibition and the final conference of the MAGICA project, a magic lantern and optical theatre show was also scheduled. This instrument combines the Praxinoscope with magic lantern projectors. This highly complex device was invented by Émile Reynaud and used in his Pantomimes Lumineuses shows at the end of the 19th century.

Abi Feijó, a renowned director and animation film producer, is the author and operator of the optical theatre reconstruction and the lanternist who introduces us to the mechanisms of movement of his magic lantern slides, on display at the Casa-Museu de Vilar in Lousada. In this show, Abi Feijó is accompanied by Elsa Cerqueira, philosophy teacher, lanternist and narrator, and musician Samuel Martins Coelho.

• Schools (MONSTRA – Lisbon Animation Festival): 28 March I 11 am – 12 pm I MUHNAC Chemical Amphitheatre (in Portuguese). *
• General public (MONSTRA – Lisbon Animation Festival): 29 March I 4 pm – 5 pm I MUHNAC Chemical Amphitheatre (in Portuguese). *
• General public (exhibition closing): 4 April I 6 pm – 7:30 pm I MUHNAC Chemical Amphitheatre (in English). **

* Prior registration required: geral@museus.ulisboa.pt | 213 921 808.

** This is a free activity, subject to prior registration: geral@museus.ulisboa.pt | 213 921 808. Admission to the show is free; admission to the Museum’s exhibitions, including the ‘MAGICA’ exhibition, will be charged.