Fantastic first day…

Posted on August 4, 2016 by Edinburghfestivalsforkids

So, after reading all the programmes, watching the venues being built and seeing hundreds of posters appear all over the city, yesterday I managed to head to the festival and see some shows !!

We had a great day, I’ll be posting some reviews soon, so please keep checking back to that page.

Firstly we saw Captain Flinn and The Pirate Dinosaurs 2: The Magic Cutlass, which was fun and energetic and a great show for wee ones, it has a little bit of everything: catchy songs, dinosaurs, puppets and a few surprises !

Then we headed along to check out the kidzone at the Pleasance, which was as great as always. We did some of the arts and crafts – you can see what’s on offer in the photo, and prices start at £1 which I think is fantastic value in the festival – it was busy and lots of little ones were enjoying being creative there !

To finish off our first day we headed along to see Morgan & West’s Utterly Spiffing Spectacular Magic Show for Kids (and Childish Grown-Ups!) – which was brilliant – they are such a fantastic and quick witted duo and know exactly how to pitch things for kids. There was plenty of audience participation and lots of magic to keep everyone guessing – it’s well worth checking out and was very busy today, so get your tickets early !

Circus Hub 2016 – It’s back !

Posted on August 3, 2016 by Edinburghfestivalsforkids

Last year was the first year for Underbelly’s Circus Hub, and I’m delighted it is returning for 2016 with an even bigger programme of circus and physical theatre !

Located on The Meadows, Underbelly’s Circus Hub is made up of two big tops, the Lafayette and The Beauty. The two venues are named after one of the world’s most famous circus performers and illusionists, (The Great Lafayette and his dog Beauty, who famously both died in Edinburgh in 1911) and promise to present us with spectacular and technically ambitious circus work .

Fantastically there are some children’s shows included in the programme and some family friendly treats too, but what looks even better are the Family Circus Workshops – meaning you and your children can actually run away with the circus and learn some skills! Happening every day from the 8th-21st August (except 15th) From aerial to juggling, hula-hooping to acrobatics. There’s all the fun of the fair in these great taster sessions designed for parents and their kids. Taught by experts from Edinburgh’s new circus centre Full Cirqle. Places are limited so book now! Workshops last for 60 minutes and each ticket admits one adult and one child. Be quick – some workshops are sold out already ….

Bedtime Stories – New for this year, this show looks great – combining circus with story telling. Immerse yourself in a magical journey. Celebrate that magical time of the day when stresses and strains of life melt away and enter a world of imagination and dreams with Bedtime Stories. Tucked up with your family in a bedroom installation, take this chance to unwind and be dazzled with circus, theatre, dance and projections from circus pioneers Upswing. 4th – 22nd August

Trash Test Dummies – Woo hoo ! These guys are returning and I loved the show last year (see my review here). This trio of lovable clowns can do amazing things with the wheely bin ! It is definitely worth checking out, with great music and fantastic circus and acrobatic skills it’s suitable for all the family. 4th – 21st August

The Hogswallops – Also returning to Edinburgh this year, The Hogswallops is a fun and quirky circus show, inspired by Roald Dahl’s The Twits. Watch the domestic adventures of a chaotic family of misfits, and be inspired by the specially composed live score.

Pleasance Kidzone 2016

Posted on August 1, 2016 by Edinburghfestivalsforkids

The Pleasance Kidzone is like an oasis during the hectic festival for parents…it’s full of craft activities, puppet shows, toys, picnic tables, a buggy park and thankfully some food stalls for that all important cup of coffee !

This year they promise some new treats with the amazing scene machine, monstrous monster-making and kite creating workshops as well as the usual daily crafty activities, and this year we are lucky enough to get double as the Pleasance will be at the EICC with kids shows there too – fantastic !

Information about all of the 18 children’s shows that the Pleasance are hosting this year can be found here ,some of my top picks are :

The Snail and the Whale – Tall Stories do wonderful children’s theatre, and this is no exception. A delightful and gentle version of this well loved book about a tiny snail longing to see the world by Julia Donaldson, featuring beautiful songs, live music and some surprises too !

The Cat In The Hat – From the moment his tall, red and white striped hat appears around the door, Sally and her brother know that the Cat is the funniest, most mischievous cat they have ever met. Returning to the festival this year, this is a great and fully entertaining show for little ones, providing lots to look at and plenty of laughs.

The Many Doors of Frank Feelbad – This interactive performance looks intriguing and imaginative. Frank is an inquisitive chap with a big problem: what’s happened to Mum? Join Frank on his adventure to find her. There’ll be scavenger hunts, puzzles to solve and even some dancing to dubstep. Dealing sensitively with grief and loss, the show asks how we cope when things go missing.

The Amazing Scene Machine Does Aardinburgh ! – Celebrate Aardman’s 40th birthday with expert Aardman modelmaker Jim Parkyn and his Amazing Scene Machine. Help create a very special 3D clay painting of Edinburgh featuring some of Aardman’s stars including Morph, Shaun the Sheep, Wallace and Gromit – and your own cast of Aardman-esque people and creatures.

Shows for ‘littler’ little ones….

Posted on July 31, 2016 by Edinburghfestivalsforkids

My friend will be returning to visit this year with her (slightly bigger) baby, so I’ve done some research on suitable shows for littler children and it seems that this year rather brilliantly there are plenty of shows to choose from !

I think it’s great-it’s a good way to introduce children to theatre and fantastic that shows are being aimed at this age group and making them and their parents feel welcome !! The shows look like they will bring lots of exciting colours, textures and sounds to the festival too…..

Puzzle – I was lucky enough to see this last year (and wrote a review here) and thought it was captivating, colourful and charming !! A beautiful piece of younger children’s theatre exploring colours and shapes set to enchanting music composed especially for the age group. August 5th – 20th (not 14th)

Hup – This musical piece for 0-24 month olds looks inspiring and fun – ‘two violins, one cello and one very mischievous raccoon.‘ ‘Both transfixing and mesmerizing, this relaxed and intimate delight of a performance is full of surprises geared right at tiny tots …’ August 11th – 28th (not17th/18th/24th)

Celeste’s Circus – Celeste warmly invites wee ones to join her circus trip.See the high-wire hippo, the peek-a-boo cat and a lovable seal performing for paper fish. This charming show is designed for 0-5 years and looks like alot of fun! August 4th-16th (not 10th) and 19th-21st and 26th – 28th

Poggle -‘ Mischief maker, maker of fun. Tumble tumble, tickle my tum. Beasties beasties, buzzing bees, Poggle’s not scared of climbing trees. Vince wants to explore the forest but he’s too scared until he meets Poggle, a friendly creature who takes him on an adventure to the magical musical tree’. This dance theatre show with live music looks imaginative and unique…for ages 6 months – 4 years. August 5th – 21st (not 8th/15th)

Head In The Clouds – This year’s offering by Ipdip who create performances especially for early years looks enchanting and sure to be fully immersive with sounds, touch, smell and visual treats. ‘Cirrus the dog has a serious job: he has to keep watch on the sheep. What to do when they lose themselves, drifting amongst the dancing clouds? How can he help these woolly-headed dreamers get back down to earth? ‘ For 0-5 years. August 8th – 28th (not 10th/17th/24th)

Nick Cope’s Family Songbook – We have been lucky enough to see Nick Cope a few times before and we have all enjoyed every single second- he sings gorgeous songs about everything from socks, supermarkets, bears and dragons. Audience participation is included and the kids will love him! If you haven’t heard his songs or seen his shows before, come and find out what you’re missing. For 0-8 years 3rd-21st August (not 17th)

Fringe by the Sea 2016 : 8th – 14th August

Posted on July 29, 2016 by Edinburghfestivalsforkids

.Fringe by the Sea returns to it’s beautiful beachside location and has two children’s events that both look great, so that along with a day at the seaside and some lobster and chips you can enjoy a show or two in a different setting outside the usual festival locations !

Alexander the Great – join award winning entertainer, Alexander the Great, for fun filled entertainment at the Spiegeltent. Alexander the Great, who trained in Circus Skills at De Hoogta Circus School in Amsterdam, specialises in magic and circus skills.
The 9am interactive entertainment shall include magic, and games, for ages 3yrs to adult! The 11am show will teach Circus Skills as well as games.
9th – 14th August, 9am and 11am.

And Mr Boom returns to Fringe by the Sea once again -festival veteran Mr Boom will be back to entertain children with his one-man band from the moon ! His imaginary spaceship has been landing on Planet Earth for over 30 years and he continues to enchant and delight wee Earthlings with an exciting mix of action songs, circle dancing and spontaneous banter. 9th August 3pm and 10th August 12.00

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