Pleasance Kidzone 2018

Posted on August 4, 2018 by Edinburghfestivalsforkids

Image result for pleasance kidzone 2018 We all surely LOVE the Kidzone at the Pleasance – with the picnic tables, the toys, the puppet theatre, the fabulous arts and crafts that keep our kids busy and entertained whilst we grab a coffee at the cafe – it’s an oasis amongst the chaos and I for one, spend alot of time there during August !!!

This year, as ever, it’s back and jam packed with activities for children up to 10 years old, including the popular shrinkie badges and key rings, decopatch animals and foam clay goodies!

As always the arts and crafts are very reasonably priced and the tent is family run by such lovely people that you will just want to keep on returning!

A trip to the Kidzone can be combined with seeing one or two of the brilliant children’s shows at the Pleasance this year – they have 17 this year for us to choose from, so there is bound to be something for everyone !! Some top picks are :

Cat In The Hat – This lovable character is back to entertain us with his rhyming wit and mischievous exploits ! Energetic and fun, this is great for the wee ones !

The Bear – Adapted by Pins and Needles Productions, this looks fab – a big white bear climbs int Tilly’s bedroom – but she’s not scared. Featuring beautiful puppets, this looks set to wow…

Wilde Creatures – From the talented Tall Stories team, Oscar Wilde’s classic fairy tales are brought to life- we see the pompous mayor, the petulant princess and the love-sick student compete to become the new town statue.

The Showstoppers' Kids Show The Showstoppers Kids Show – Embracing the mayhem that can occur when the kids get to decide, this improvised musical adventure is bound to be great fun !

BBC at the Edinburgh Festival 2018 – a bit of a let down

Posted on August 3, 2018 by Edinburghfestivalsforkids

I was hoping to share my usual enthusiasm for this great space during the festival, but whilst the BBC at the Edinburgh Festivals tent is now open and inviting you in to sit on the lovely deckchairs, lie on the bright green fake grass, play ping pong to our hearts content and eat delicious snacks ….. all from the 3rd – 27th August !!! – I have to share my HUGE disappointment that this year there are NO specific kids activities or shows, or their fabulous CBeebies weekends and arts and crafts …yup, not a single child specific activity this year folks…..speaking to one of the team they mentioned budget costs, streamlining blah blah blah…I’ve already tweeted them and will email them via their website too….such a shame.

It has returned to the luscious site at George Heriot’s School though which means great views of the Castle, especially with the fireworks ! And is still a great place to hang out, to get a bit of peace from the chaos on the streets – – it does have giant connect 4 and ping pong still – it was just much more friendly and inviting with the kids being catered for too !!

You can check out their Facebook page here for regular updates about events and (adult) shows!!

Amazing Assembly….

Posted on August 2, 2018 by Edinburghfestivalsforkids

Image result for assembly edinburgh festival

Image result for assembly helter skelter Assembly 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…

Posted on July 31, 2018 by Edinburghfestivalsforkids

Image result for pianodrome edinburgh

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

Image result for pianodrome edinburgh

Creative and Curious Circus Hub 2018…

Posted on July 28, 2018 by Edinburghfestivalsforkids

Image result for underbelly circus hub

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 !!!

edinburghfestivalsforkids

making festival fun a little easier…