About Us
Participation, curiosity & play
Science Communication & Sonic Art
Learning through experimentation
Previous events listed by year: here
We make some really interesting things from what has been thrown away, a bit like Wombles (please refer to Wikipedia if you are under the age of 45). We especially like to use discarded electronic waste, a bit like Techno Wombles (please refer to your imagination).
Why?
Effective science communication and arts participation rely on meaningful engagement with all kinds of people, in all kinds of settings. We bring imagination, humour, fascination, passion, creativity, a lot of experience and some very innovative contraptions to help push the message:
Learning how the world works is a beautiful and creative journey.
All of us sometimes need encouragement and inspiration on this journey.
On this journey we sometimes need to smash up an old computer, rip out it’s guts and make some intense sounds with it’s innards.
Photo: Hoo-Ha, Bristol Beacon, 2022
What?
Noisy Toy is a trading name of Scavenger Labs, a Community Interest Company whose directors are Stephen Summers & Mick Chesterman. Both companies share the same ethos, and 50% of the same directors.
Noisy Toys has always been registered as a dormant company, waiting for the global share value of noise to peak. In the murky depths it sleeps, controlling the dreams of psychically sensitive people. When the day comes, it shall rise up and stride the earth, reclaiming it’s dominions.
Most of our work is focussed around:
- science, especially physics
- music/sonic art/organised noise
- e-waste awareness and repurposing/up-cycling/ hardware-hacking
but we dabble with anything if it feels right.
Everything we do and make must be: 1) participatory, 2) interesting, 3) built from waste where possible
Who?
Noisy Toys is run by the artist and educator Stephen Summers, who works with a small team of freelance artists, Makers and performers for specific projects. You can find out more about some of them below.
Photo: Logistical meeting of Corporate Executives, Camper Calling 2022
Where?
Noise HQ is in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire. We travel all over the country and beyond to deliver our activities and performances.
Stephen Summers
Started Noisy Toys in 2007, but still has not yet dominated the global noise market. Stephen likes making things and making noise and making things that make noise.
A qualified teacher and workshop leader with 20 years’ experience in science communication and musical engagement activities.
Photo: Festival of Tomorrow, 2025
Photo: Science & Industry Museum, Manchester, 2024
Olivia Rhoden – Liv for Science
Silliness and Science on tap. Liv loves the curious corners of the world and asking ‘why?’ to nearly everything. A passionate noise-maker and environment carer, noisy toys is the perfect place to make noise about why we should save the world from e-waste and make a racket while doing it!
Rachele Evaroa
A cultural producer, social entrepreneur and performer working at the intersection of community, creativity, and youth empowerment. With a strong track record in social enterprise, she has developed initiatives that use culture as a tool for social change. Alongside this, she has been a regularly gigging musician in the band Galivantes, and has set up her own venue for Grass Roots music, The Old Abbey Taphouse in Manchester.
Photo: Eureka! National Children’s Museum, 2023
Photo: Greta Santagata, Acousatron @ Eureka Discovery, Wirral, 2023
Black Cat
Our Cymatics specialist; Blackcat has been researching and demonstrating cymatics patterns with sound and music for several years, building her equipment during an artist residency at Bidston Observatory.
Yorgos – Georgios Stenos Frantzios
Yorgo is a sonic scavenger; a full-time explorer of hardware stores, kitchens and junkyards in quest for noise-making treasures. You can find out more about his work here.
Photo: Moscow Maker Faire, 2018