Author Archives: Edinburghfestivalsforkids

Amazing Assembly….

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Image result for assembly helter skelterAssembly have kicked things off with a bang this year ! We were lucky enough to attend the Assembly Gala last night and we LOVED every minute – Assembly have brought some fantastic programming to the Fringe this year, added even more venues and let’s not forget about the rather fun helter skelter on George Street so we can all ‘sip and slide’ !!!

The gala was a sensational showcase of some of the brilliant shows Assembly are hosting over this festival – and such an awe inspiring reminder of the breadth of acts and performers we are being treated to and the wide variety of talents !! We saw jugglers, cabaret stars, acrobats, comedians and clowns! I know this blog is for the kids events, but it’s nice to add a few top tips for all the parents too if any of you are lucky enough to get a night out ! …

  • The fabulous Le Gateau Chocolat – what a fab compere, we were crying with laughter and what a voice ! I’m super excited for his kids show Duckie, but I’m going to make sure I get along to see Icons too – it’ll be fantastic !
  • I was super excited to see the return of Lady Rizo who I’d seen a few years ago in the upstairs of the old forest cafe, and been utterly captivated by her voice and presence – she wowed the crowd last night and her show is set to wow too !!
  • I missed The Choir Of Man last year but can see why it was something of a hit – high energy, feel good and sing-a-long-able too…I can imagine my nine year old daughter enjoying it alot !!

And not forgetting of course, the showcase piece from 7 Fingers with Reversible, which we went along and saw tonight. Much gentler and more evocative than their hit show Traces back in 2015, Reversible is a journey of remembering- family, friends and loved ones and reflecting on what they’ve given to the young people who flip, dance, juggle, hoop and spin themselves around the stage. A simple set and fantastic lighting, with dramatic shadows filling the huge venue add to the ambience of the piece and let the raw talent and skill of the performers shine. Moments of humour and high energy acrobatics add energy to the performance and balance emotions out ! It was particularly great to hear the front row, consisting of mainly children giggle wildly at a somewhat harassed looking bride squeezing herself out of the smallest of spaces and wriggling about the floor  – I’d highly recommend seeing it yourself !

The very best thing of all is the generosity Assembly have shown in the locals discount – it’s great that one of the venues is taking this approach and making themselves far more accessible for everyone….the locals discount only last till the 5th August so get in there quick and snap them up !!

Pitch Perfect Pianodrome…

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Very excitingly, this year during the festival we are being treated to a brand new venue, one which looks totally unique and pretty mega ! Its the Pianodrome – if you’ve not heard of it before, it’s definitely worth checking out. It’s just finished being constructed in the Botanics and is a thing of beauty !

If you’ve ever wondered where all the old pianos end up, then wonder no more ! It’s an amphitheatre made entirely of up-cycled pianos !  Open every day from 3 – 26 August..

There is lots of fun to be had at the Pianodrome over August, including :

Drop in and play sessions – Daily 10am – 4pm
Five pianos are tuned for all to play and the rest are used to build a circle of tiered seating. Come along for free events, workshops and performances.

A host of wonderful free workshops, including one this Friday, the 3rd August by the brilliant Rowanbank Environmental Arts and Education – a ‘tree circus’ – Free family circus show, set in the beautiful grounds of the Botanics- between 3pm -4pm……one not to miss !

Sat 4 // Something Smashing improv dance and music showcase // 2-5pm
Sun 5 // Healing Plants Walk with Rachel Ashton Art (bring a pencil and sketchbook and arrive early for a prompt departure!) // 2-3pm
Sat 11 // Senegalese Djembe drumming workshop (ages 6+) // 11am-12.30pm
Sat 18 // Caroline Overy leads a singing workshop for all abilities and none // 11am-12pm
Sun 19 // Music and drum workshop open to all (age 6+) // 10am-1pm
Mon 20 // Pianodrome Philoshophy: games & stories to facilitate sympathetic listening and sharing of opinions // 2.30-3.30pm

Then at night, something magical will occur with #Pianodrome Live Wednesdays-Sundays 7pm-9pm. Brilliant multi-instrumentalists Sink host different guest acts each night

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Creative and Curious Circus Hub 2018…

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The superbly brilliant Circus Hub by Underbelly returns to the Meadows this year, bringing with it a whole host of spectacular and fun shows and this year, even more family friendly circus shows – yay !!!

You can visit the Circus Hub for two dazzling circus tents – The Lafayette and The Beauty – and a charming bar ! ( I’m also hoping the yummy churros stall will be back this year – that was a highlight last summer !)..

Every single show in this venue looks like it will be fantastic, but here are my top five picks of family friendly shows, with some old favourites returning !!! :

Arr We There Yet ? – Returning after last year’s huge success, this is a rip-roaring and swashbuckling adventure in which three sailors hit the high seas in search of treasure! A scallywag pirate, a muscular sailor and a chef with a seafood allergy make for a hopeless crew as they fight for the title of Captain aboard the ship. These acrobatic pirates turn ship life upside down!                 4th – 25th August  12pm  The shows on 14 and 21 August will be Relaxed Performances.

 

Splash Test Dummies – Yay !!! This trio of very loveable acrobats return with a new adventure for us this year . Splash Test Dummies are here, ready to roll out their beach towels and spring into a brand-new hour of circus-filled hilarity for the whole family. See a brilliant array of catch-your-breath stunt work, acrobatics, juggling and the side-splitting, slapstick comedy for which the Dummies are famous.   4th – 25th August 1pm

 

Circa : Wolfgang – After the sell out success last year of Humans – Circa return with a family show this year which is sure to be stunning. Straight from the score and onto the stage, the man known as Mozart appears amidst a puff of powder, wigged and ready to throw musical madness into a crescendo of dives, swoops and twirls. Featuring mischievous acrobats and musicians, Wolfgang reinvents the composer’s magical music with circus twists.  Watch as the notes are physically lifted off the page as performers bring the renowned compositions to life amidst a storm of powder, tumbles and crashes, all under the eccentric swirl of the conductor’s baton.   4th – 25th August 2pm

 

Circus Abyssinia: Ethiopian Dreams – Back again, we LOVED this last year – full of colour, energy and music !! An unashamedly joyful mix of astonishing stunts and enchanted adventure, Circus Abyssinia follows the journey of two Ethiopian brothers whose dream of joining the circus became a reality. Plunged into a world of daredevil wonders, they encounter a host of other circus dreamers: dancing, contorting, gravity-defying figures, all weaving tales of their own.              4th – 25th August 3pm

Universoul Circus : Hip Hop Under The Big Top – This newcomer to the Circus Hub looks fab, combining great music with great acrobatics – one to definitely check out!  It’s Hip-Hop Under the Big Top, combining edge-of-your-seat performances, stunning spectacle, hilarious audience participation and a soundtrack that will blow the roof off the tent. UniverSoul’s international cast includes high-wire artists, slapstick comedy, jaw-dropping contortionists, Caribbean limbo fire-dancers and global internet sensations Fresh The Clowns.                                4th – 25th August 5pm

 

Wowee….that’s ALOT of circus to be seeing, we are very very lucky !!!

Fringe For Bairns 2018 29th July – 1st August

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For the fourth year running, the Free Sisters are hosting another Fringe for Bairns located in the courtyard at the Three Sisters on the Cowgate  – expect children’s shows, face painting, magicians, an outdoor cinema and the return of the very popular courtyard petting zoo. It’s a great way to see some shows before the full on hecticness of the fringe starts…

Daily activities over the four days are as follows :

Sunday 29th July- A cinema and Meet & Greet with Anna and Elsa

Monday 30th July- Lego Day with Lego Game on Big screen and Bricks 4 Kidz – Glasgow, Scotland

Tuesday 31st July- Animal Day with Petting Zoo

Wednesday 1st August- Superhero Day

Make sure to check out the dates and timings for all the shows here and to turn up early for the best seats! You can also check out their facebook page which will give great updates about shows and events.

The image below is a great wee guide to all the kids shows during the festival :

Amazing Assembly Locals Offer for 1st – 5th August…

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So, maybe I’m a little slow with seeing this, but Assembly are being SUPER generous and offering Edinburgh locals a superb bargain discount with £5 tickets for ALL Assembly shows from 1st – 5th August !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Check out full details here –

How to claim £5 tickets

  • Just head down to any Assembly box office
  • Show us a proof of address & photo ID
  • Get tickets to any of our shows for just a fiver

**Each customer can claim up to 6 tickets using the discount**

If you are around for these days you are in luck, there are some great children’s shows and circus shows on at Assembly, a few top picks would be :

Chores – Chores is the story of two typical young rascal boys playing in their messy bedroom. Suddenly, Mother’s alarming screams rattle the boys back in to acrobatic action. A generous serve of comedy and chaotic acrobatics accompanies every attempt at cleaning their room.

 

Reversible – the performance group 7 Fingers return with this unique, riveting mix of theatre, circus, dance, music and acrobatics. A reversible world where everyday life is turned upside down into new, spectacular universes filled with beauty, emotion and yes, hope. Imagine your grandparents and what they lived through when they were your age. Reversible is dedicated to a generation who forged the world that we live in today and whose stories might hold the key to a better tomorrow.

Attrape Moi – Twirling 12 hoops, dancing with diabolos, soaring through the air – all in a day’s play for Flip FabriQue! These Fringe favourites return after sell-out seasons – experience these high-flying, fearless and fun young artists as they astound audiences with adrenaline-pumping feats of cutting-edge nouveau cirque. Crowd-pleasing spectacles of extreme acrobatics, dramatic turns on the trampoline wall and inventive parkour will dazzle.

Denim : The Denim Juniors – Five pop princesses celebrate the power of being yourself. This drag pop concert for kids glows with stunning costumes and live music from animated classics to party hits. Denim is the place to scream, dream, and become a queen.

 

Ellie and the Enormous Sneeze –  Mouths of Lions produce brilliant and creative shows. This year’s offering looks equally bonkers ! ‘A sneeze is a powerful thing, a dangerous thing, you never know what might happen with a sneeze…’ Join Ellie on a wild snot-filled adventure as she sets out to help her friend Stanley to sneeze for the very first time.