Festival Fireworks 2016 Monday 29th

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Image Credit: Studio 2 Photography (www.studio2weddings.com)

It’s a very sad, and very beautiful end to the fantastic and jam packed month of August festival goodness when we see the festival fireworks flying high over the Castle. This year the event is on Monday 29th August at 9.30pm.

Set against the iconic backdrop of Edinburgh’s historic Castle, this spectacular event brings together stirring orchestral music from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and magnificent pyrotechnics, specially choreographed by international fireworks artists Pyrovision to enhance your musical experience !

Tickets for the Ross Theatre are now sold out, but you can still buy tickets for the Princes Street Gardens. Book your tickets for the gardens here

Wherever you are in Edinburgh, join in and hear the music live by tuning into Forth 1 97.3 from 9.00pm.

Big Beach Busk 2016 27th August

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Hopefully the sunshine will remain for this great event, now in it’s seventh year, and something which offers a little respite after all the hecticness of the Edinburgh festivals ! The Portobello Big Beach Busk is taking pace this Saturday, the 27th August from noon…taking place all along the prom, this promises to be an exciting day filled with musicians, street performers, artists….any type or kind of performer is welcome.

“No rules. Just Busking. You can be any kind of street entertainer you like from a one man band to an orchestra, a mime/robot, a choir, balloon modeller or magician. We’ve had brass bands and tenko drummers alongside salsa bands and some amazing singer songwriters.”

The sandcastle competition that ran at the same time in 2015 makes its return this year. You can start building from 12.30pm and judging is at 3pm.

Third Week Highlights…..

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Another busy week has passed, and I’ve seen some great and unusual shows too ! A little bit of everything ! We’re in the final week of the Fringe now, with most shows finishing on the 29th August…so if you’ve been thinking of checking something out -now is the time to get organised and do it !!

Highlights this week have included the following  (there were others but they have finished their runs already sadly-like Snail and the Whale and Poggle) :

  • The Glasgow Girls – This has to be one of my total highlights of the Fringe so far this year. It’s brilliant – powerful, moving, musical and fun ! It’s recommended for ages 12+, and I think is a really important piece of theatre for this age group. Please, please try and catch it – last performance 28th August.
  • Sticks, Stones, Broken Bones – Using some inventive household objects, and even audience members shoes – this is a great little shadow puppet show by the brilliant Bunk puppets. Featuring a few short stories in shadow puppetry, it’s unique to also be able to see ‘behind the scenes’ too ! On until the 29th August.
  • The Amazing Bubble Man – I felt like I’d been missing out on something, having never seen the bubble man, even after he’s been here for at least the last nine years! I finally went to see him and really enjoyed the show – he certainly knows how to work his bubbles, putting smoke inside them, making big ones, square ones, spinning alien ship ones, light up ones, helium filled ones….it’s a hit with all the bubble fans out there and he includes a little bit of bubble science too for the older ‘kids’ inside the venue ! On until the 29th August.
  • Celeste’s Circus – This is a really sweet little show for the under fives. Celeste takes us to the circus, using a lovely handmade set and featuring a cat, seal, dogs, hippo and elephant ! Lots of cute touches for the little ones and the perfect length too to keep everyone entertained ! On the 26th-28th August.
  • Hup – A quirky, gentle piece for under twos – four musicians delight the crowd with their music and a playful racoon. Really really lovely…..On until the 28th (not 24th).

For something a little different, I would recommend :

  • Guru Dudu’s Silent Disco Walking Tours – I LOVED every minute of this and can see it working really well with families – there were some kids on my tour too….everyone gets headsets and listens and sings along to some very familiar disco tracks whilst ‘dancing’ around the city being led by Guru Dudu, who advises on some dance moves, some choreography and gives some great chat !! VERY fun indeed…..on until the 29th, a few tours a day !
  • Teatro Delusio – Three actors are able to be 29 characters with no words – it’s amazing really, through the use of masks they are able to transform completely and have the audience transfixed in a story of the backstage of a theatre. One for older children perhaps, but my seven year old daughter enjoyed it and loved the masks…On until the 29th August

Fantastic Friday…..

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I had a great day yesterday at the festival, starting with seeing Sticks Stones Broken Bones by the brilliant Bunk Puppets. This was a real gem of a show, quirky, imaginative and perfect for children. The shadow puppet is totally captivating and older children would enjoy being able to see all the mundane objects that are transformed into the characters on screen…..well work a look.

This was followed by the most awe inspiring, fantastic and motivating Glasgow Girls – this is one for older children/teenagers – recommended for ages 12 and above. I know they want to encourage more young people to see this show and it’s clear to see why – it’s a powerful tale – well, actually true story of a group of seven ‘fiesty’ friends at High School in Glasgow, who decide to do something and object when their friends start being taken away and affected by the dawn raids and deportations. Excellent choreography, brilliant singing, some Scottish humour, very current and timely topic, delivering an important message……everyone should be seeing this show.

Cool, Creative Circus…

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If you haven’t made it down to check out Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows, I think should definitely do it this weekend ! There are loads of great family shows on there to entertain everyone ….

Highlights including :

The Hogwallops – Great for kids, and back from their run last year – this madcap family take you on a journey through birthdays, washing and baking cakes. Based on Roald Dahl’s ‘The Twits’ , this show is loads of fun for everyone.

Trash Test Dummies – I love these guys – three lovable Australian acrobats who do some amazing things with the mundane wheely bin, a bit of acrobatics, juggling, clowning, music and ….mayhem !

 

Bedtime Stories – This is a beautiful and gentle piece of physical theatre, great for wee ones…you get to sit and lie down in cosy beds and snuggle under a blanket and watch the story unfold before your eyes of a little girl and her nighttime adventures with her friend ‘three’.

This next show isn’t in the Circus Hub but right behind in the Udderbelly…I loved this, having seen it twice and would highly recommend….

A Simple Space – Seven young, unbelievably talented acrobats push themselves to their physical limits and beyond in an awe-inspiring performance of supreme acrobatic ability, strength and skill. They manage to also make it playful and fun for the audience and is a delight to watch !