Amazing animatronics bring Permian Monsters back to life at the Horniman

252 million years ago, in a period called the Permian, life on Earth was dominated by extraordinary creatures.

It was a time of fearsome sabre-toothed predators, giant insects and bizarre-looking sharks which ended with a mass extinction that destroyed 90% of all life, paving the way for the Earth’s next great rulers… the dinosaurs.

Discover this mysterious time period in Permian Monsters: Life Before the Dinosaurs, a fascinating, family-friendly exhibition travelling to the UK for the first time and opening at the Horniman on Saturday 15 February 2020.

From Diictodons to DimetrodonsEnnatosaurus to Eotitanosuchus, the exhibition vividly brings the inhabitants of the Permian period back to life through fossil skeletons, full-size models and animatronics. Visitors can also sift through interactive dig pits, get creative in an art area, and see a collection of artwork offering a glimpse back in time through the eyes of award-winning palaeoartist Julius Csotonyi.

Permian Monsters is such an incredible exhibition that will get visitors of all ages excited. It provides a fascinating foray into the amazing, enigmatic and down-right weird animals - the ancestors of both reptile and mammal groups that we know today. The scientific content has just been updated and thus represents our current understanding of the biology and evolution of Permian species… ancient animals that ruled the world before the dinosaurs. This exhibition is the dictionary definition of awesome!
Dr Emma Nicholls, Deputy Keeper of Natural History

Permian Monsters: Life Before the Dinosaurs is open from Saturday 15 February until Sunday 1 November 2020. The Horniman will be hosting special activities linked to the exhibition during the school holidays. See horniman.ac.uk for details.

Ticket prices: Child £5; Adult £9: Family (4 tickets, up to 2 adults) £20. Prices include 10% voluntary Gift Aid donation. See horniman.ac.uk for more information and to book tickets. Horniman Members and Benefactors enjoy free, unlimited visits to the exhibition. For information on how to become a Member see horniman.ac.uk/visit/membership

Permian Monsters: Life Before the Dinosaurs is a travelling exhibition produced by Gondwana Studios.