Big Beach Busk – Portobello 27th August 2022

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So, the festival is almost ending…we are feeling a bit sad about that after such an incredible month. But this weekend, enjoy some sunshine and relax by the sea and be reminded of all the homegrown Edinburgh talent we have as the Portobello Big Beach Busk is back and is happening on Saturday 27th August 12 – 6pm….buskers will line the promenade and it’s set to be a fantastic event !!!

As always, anyone can join in, you don’t need to ask, it doesn’t have to be music – anything that entertains is the key !

Most importantly – have fun !!

Second week highlights…..2022

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We haven’t managed to see quite as much this week as we were away over the weekend, and now it’s back to school…eek. We have squeezed in a show or two though of course, and a few snacks along the way. There is still lots on, and some new shows just starting, so do keep on exploring the festival programme….

Top picks this week have been :

Brave Space – Beautiful, immersive and intimate circus, where you are invited in to get up close and personal with the performers. A gentle and emotive start to the day….Visually stunning, with serene and graceful performances, Brave Space is an oasis amongst the hustle and bustle just outside 

Boom – Emotive, energetic, playful and poignant…this circus takes you through a whirlwind of emotions and is seriously impressive. Boom is based on real events where performers met just after the outbreak of war in Ukraine, in March 2022, and its incredible what they’ve produced together to share here in Edinburgh. 

For the littler ones, our mini-reviewer has enjoyed :

Dinosaurs and all that rubbish – Balancing both an environmental message and lots of fun, this show is sure to delight younger audiences and their accompanying adults alike !This show was a massive hit with our mini-reviewer, and also with me! 

Splash Test Dummies – There is a reason why these guys are seasoned favourites of the fringe! Back with their aquatic themed silliness – Splash Test Dummies is a totally bonkers, fun show full of audience participation, slapstick comedy and splattered with some pretty impressive circus skills! 

Spotlight on : The Pianodrome

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Once again, readers of this blog will know I love the magical, immersive space of the Pianodrome. Over the years it has travelled around various corners of the city, and this year it has found it’s home in the Old Royal High building….

The Pianodrome is such an incredible venue for any performance, a legendary 100 seater amphitheatre made entirely from upcycled pianos….it really is worth a visit in itself. And this year, the Old Royal High hosts a new space – the Tinderbox Grand Hall.

I have been lucky enough to visit for one of the free lunchtime concerts and it was bliss – and I’m sure now that the city has become a little busier, it is much more of a calm oasis, offering an antidote to some of the festival hecticness outside…lunchtime concerts are on between 1-2pm every day in August – full line up here.

Kids are included in the wider programme too:

First Piano On The Moon – For ages 5+ – 20/21st, 27/28th August – ‘William’s dream comes true, chosen to play at Mozart’s birthday celebrations. He’s piano-tricks aplenty to impress school friends, but the prestigious event is full of young prodigies playing proper pieces from memory. If only a genius like Mozart were on hand to guide William through the concert…

Otherwise, the summer resonancy programme is jam packed with events, including live music, performances, folk sessions, life drawing and much much more….

Film Fest In The City : 12th – 14th August

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This almost passed me by and we are sad to be missing it as we’re away this weekend, but if you are able, this is always a treat in festival season, free outdoor film screenings at St Andrews Square – and miraculously it looks like it’ll be perfect weather to take a picnic blanket along and enjoy some entertainment !!

The full information is here on the website, and I’ve picked out the family friendly films below:

Friday 12 August

11.00 – Paddington (2014) -Everyone’s favourite bear in his first big screen adventure as he travels from deepest darkest Peru to London to try and find himself a new home.

13.00 – Fantastic Mr Fox (2009) -Filmmaker Wes Anderson guides an A-list cast in this stop-motion take on Roald Dahl’s classic book.

15.00 – Christopher Robin (2018) -Ewan McGregor stars as a now-grown-up Christopher Robin who is visited by Winnie the Pooh to help find his lost friends in the Hundred Acre Wood.

Saturday 13 August

11:00 – Brave (2012)-Follow Princess Merida as she forges her own path in Disney and Pixar’s journey into the mythical Scottish kingdom of DunBroch. Celebrating Scotland’s Stories on Screen. Pre-screening family entertainment, including face-painting.

13:00 – The Illusionist (2010)-Based on the story by Jacques Tati, this beautifully animated tale tells of a French illusionist who travels to Scotland, where he meets a young woman where their exciting adventures together change both their lives forever. Celebrating Scotland’s Stories on Screen. Pre-screening family entertainment.

15:30  –  Rob Roy (1922)-Join us for a special live musical performance by multi-instrumentalist David Allison to accompany this impressive 1922 classic film.

18:00 – Wall-E (2008) -An all singing, all dancing modern classic from Pixar.

Sunday 14 August

11:00 – Shrek (2001) -Join a whole host of fairy tale characters in this animated, tuneful and funny animated adventure.

13:00 – Big (1989) -Tom Hanks reconnects with his youth in this 80s family classic.

15:15 – Whip It (2009) -Get your skates on and join Babe Ruthless and the roller-derby team in this funny and quirky drama.

17:30 – The Farewell (2021)-A funny and uplifting tale of a family reconnecting with their past

19:45 – Twilight (2008)-Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart star in this everlasting teenage vampire romance.

First week highlights….2022

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Wowee, it is sooooooooooooooooooo good to be back seeing live theatre and performances, what a TOTAL treat. We have been immensely lucky this week and have seen some fantastic shows (check out our reviews so far here), indulged in some delicious food and the sun has even been shining in Edinburgh during the festival so far…..the weather also seems delighted the festival is all back again!!!

The only slight disappointment is the hot donut stall – not sure what’s happened there, but they just aren’t what they used to be – so we’ve moved on to pastures new with ‘panquake’ for all your waffle and crepe desires and the dumplings stall which remains a firm family favourite !!

We have seen some spectacular circus, some seriously impressive dance, astounding magic, some spellbinding storytelling, magical puppet shows and very silly comedy…here are our top picks so far :

The Listies: Hamlet – Prince of Skidmark – Absolutely hilarious, if you only go and see one children’s show – this has to be it !!! An hour is too short !

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A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings – Intricate and very creative set and with just enough of a dark edge to keep us totally engrossed, its highly recommended you take a seat and get settled in to this  intimate hour of captivating storytelling.

Tom Brace : Embrace the Impossible !– Full of properly astounding magic, a sprinkling of time travel and some game show madness with ‘who wants to be a millionaire’ – its a fantastic show and I would highly recommend

Manual Cinema presents: Leonardo! A Wonderful show about a terrible monster – Wowsers !! What a total treat of a show…jam packed full of creativity and talent, be it paper cut outs, furry puppets, illustrations or an endearingly quirky live soundtrack and songs.

Circus Abyssinia: Tulu – This is energetic, passionate and you’ll be totally awestruck by all the performers, expect contortionism, acrobatics, aerial, rollerskating and an incredible finale involving a giant swing !!

For the littler little ones, our mini reviewers have loved:

A Ladder To The Stars– So much care has been taken throughout this performance to really tune into a child’s mind – what they find funny and what fuels their imagination to keep them invested in the story.

The Smeds and The Smoos – Tall Stories once again delight us with their adaptation of a beloved Julia Donaldson book. Including catchy songs, gorgeous puppetry and audience interaction…not to be missed.

For the whole family, we’ve loved these two high octane shows – both have been breath-taking:

Muse – Flip Fabrique once again astound us with their fantastic acrobatics and with beautiful intimate moments and silly snippets inbetween – try and sit near the front if you can !!

Beats on Pointe – This show is filled with energy, passion and some seriously fantastic dance skills, not to mention the infectious soundtrack,,,you’ll enjoy it as much as the performers obviously love dancing !