Second week highlights….2019

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We have been busy squeezing in the last of the shows before the schools went back this week, and are all a little sad that our particular period of fringe madness has passed for another year !

But there is still loads of time to get out there and enjoy some great children’s shows if you can, and spend some time in the Pleasance Kidzone, or eating donuts or delicious ice creams in George Square Gardens….we’ve also spotted a gyoza stall in Bristo Square that we are going to investigate soon…

Top picks this week have been :

image of eventTom Brace: Brace of Spades – we loved the super cool tricks and were genuinely baffled by his magic. Lots of audience participation enhanced the show further and all delivered in a charming manner !

 

image of eventMustard Doesn’t Go With Girls – This romping musical number was brilliant, with colourful characters, great songs and a little bit of menace added into the mix ! Made even better by a strong feminist message at it’s core too…

 

image of eventDexter and Winter’s Detective Agency – A cool criminal caper, delivered with superb storytelling skills – all within the amazing Roundabout venue. On at weekends only…

 

 

For the wee ones we LOVED..

image of eventLittle Top – A beautiful visit to the circus for babies – juggling, acrobatics and loads of interaction and equally engaging for the adults too !! A total treat….

 

For the whole family, we enjoyed

image of eventElements of Freestyle – Lots of wheels, incredible break dancing and parkour, lots of impressive staging and beautiful choreography combine to make this most stunning show with an exceptional live music soundtrack. .

 

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Catch them while you can……ending 18th August

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So, once again a few shows seem to have a slightly shorter run within the fringe, finishing on the 18th August, so you’ve only got another handful of chances to see them, our top recommendations are :

image of eventThe Listies: Ickypedia –DON’T MISS THIS SHOW – it’s brilliant for both kids and adults, super funny, super silly and super entertaining….

 

The Showstoppers' Kids Show The Showstoppers’ Kids Show – These champions of Improvisation are back and no two shows will ever be the same – expect some whacky stories as the kids come up with all the ideas!

image of eventValentina’s Galaxy – Fantastic space adventure full of interaction and a beautifully crafted set…

 

 

image of eventLittle Top – Fantastic circus fun for the very wee ones !! Lots of opportunity to get involved….

 

Shows for slightly ‘older’ children…

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So, last year, we had a guest reviewer on this website who started to explore the slightly under-catered for and under-represented older children’s/teenage shows. There seems to be hundreds of shows for children, getting their own section of the Fringe programme, but these cater really for the under 12’s….and only a handful even really are aimed for older children within that broad age range….

So what about the teenage market ? If you are trying to negotiate the Fringe programme with children this age, it can get quite tricky. Some circus shows are fantastic for all ages, then they start to have age restrictions and its hard to know exactly why – is it the humour, the nudity, any sexual jokes perhaps ?? Comedy has the same challenges, will they understand the material used?- as does theatre – and of course each teenager will be different with what content they can enjoy or understand.

This year, we have tried to review even more shows within this category, and it’s been great – to distinguish these from other children’s/family shows we are reviewing – I’ve put their age ratings in brackets by the reviews, so you know before reading the review that it’s specifically for older children. It’s still very much a work in progress and something we’d like to dedicate a bit more time to – how to cater for this market – if anyone knows of companies creating work with this age group in mind, we’d be really keen to hear about it.

For now, the shows we’ve explored so far are :

First Week Highlights 2019

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Phew..we have been super bus this week and have crammed in ALOT of shows…we have also managed to have many ice-creams, some hot donuts and spent some great creative time in the Pleasance Kidzone making shrinkies and tea-light holders….

We have seem some spectacular circus, hilarious comedy and seriously impressive storytelling….some of our top picks this last week have been :

image of eventThe Listies: Ickypedia – If you go and see one children’s show- make it this one ! Hilarious, messy fun…you won’t be disappointed.

 

image of event360 Allstars – For high octane, fast paced impressive tricks, this is the show for you ! Basketball tricks, break dancing, cyr wheel, beat boxing and more…

 

image of eventMorgan and West: Unbelievable Science – For all science enthusiasts out there – they will amaze you with some optical illusions and their usual trickery. Highly entertaining.

 

image of eventSplash Test Dummies – They are lovable, silly and very very funny ! Baywatch style lifesaving, beach volleyball and synchronised swimming all get a Dummies makeover !

 

image of eventTroll – Only on until the 11th August -a  compelling, captivating story , with such  imaginative, creative puppetry and set.

 

For the little ones, we loved:

image of eventFox- tot ! – Multi-sensory adventure where your wee one can get fully involved meeting the playful characters and listening to the beautiful music.

 

For the whole family, we’ve loved these two circus shows – both have been breathtaking:

image of eventBlizzard – fantastic acrobatics with very funny and silly snippets inbetween – try and sit near the front if you can !!

 

image of eventBackbone – Evocative, astoundingly beautiful – stunning acrobatics made to look so graceful and effortless  imaginative sequences and use of limited props and incredible laser lighting that our mini reviewers especially loved !

 

 

 

 

Book Festival 2019 Opens this weekend….

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Image result for edinburgh international book festival 2019Festival season is in full swing, personally it feels likes it’s been going for weeks already – and yet another one opens this weekend – it is truly exhausting !!  The Edinburgh International Book Festival – bringing with it a host of fantastic events, free arts and crafts activities, two beautiful bookshops and a gorgeous space to hang out in Charlotte Square…it is also a very tranquil oasis away from the hecticness of the Fringe and I highly recommend it simply for the change of scenery and pace alone !!

There are lots of free arts and crafts activities every day in the fabulous Story Box area and the opening weekend has the following brilliant sounding drop-in events :

50 Years of The Very Hungry Caterpillar50 Years of the Very Hungry Caterpillar – Both Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th August 11.00am – 4.30pm  Feeling peckish? Celebrate 50 years of Eric Carle’s classic picture book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by dropping into Story Box for lots of exciting colouring and craft activities inspired by the much-loved tale. You might even get the chance to meet the greedy insect himself.

Join the Super Power AgencyJoin The Super Power Agency – Both Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th August 11.00am – 4.30pm : Super Power Agency Bus On George Street.  Hop aboard the Super Power Agency Bus and become a literacy superhero! Special agents show you how to take a book out of your head and onto the page, where it can change the world, with fun bookmaking and storytelling activities.

Full listings of all the free events for children and young people can be found here ….enjoy!