Pleasance will be opening some of their shows up to a staggering 1,600 Edinburgh Primary School children this week, up until the 25th August…
Shows on offer to schools this year are You’re an Instrument, Norvil and Josephine: Rabbits Out of the Hat, The Little Prince, You’ll See, Chatterbox and Doktor Kaboom. Pleasance provides a Charlie Irons bus for each school from their school gates to the Pleasance Courtyard, where they are met by the Pleasance team and chaperoned to a designated area in the Courtyard before seeing their show. All of this for free. The 24 Schools attending this year are: Roseburn, Dalmeny, Pirniehall, Pentland, Stockbridge, St David’s, Bowhouse, Royal Mile, Brunstane, Gorgie Mills, Craigour Park, Victoria, Granton, Oaklands, Liberton, Royal High, Prestonfield, Longstone, Carrick Knowe, Dalry, St Cuthbert’s, St Catherine’s and St Andrew’s.
Pleasance, a registered Scottish Charity, has run this initiative since 2019 and is the only venue in the history of the Festival Fringe to do this.
All the more reason to keep on supporting all the fantastic work the Pleasance does and the brilliant shows on offer there this year…you’ve got a week left to enjoy them all !
Wowsers, time just flies and here we are, prepping for another Edinburgh festival in only a few weeks time ! We’ve had some amazing weather lately to get us into the sunny spirit and I’m getting very excited about August and all the fun times it brings !
As always, it is so difficult to whittle down all the amazing children’s shows on offer into a top recommendations list – this year there are almost 150 children’s shows to choose from, and that’s not counting all the fantastic circus, magic and music on offer too !! You can check them all out here ..
We have got some firm favourites returning, and I’ll be doing a separate top picks of shows for younger children, and once again for older kids/teens…I am sure I will miss something new or exciting or unique – so please do get in touch with your own recommendations too ! I love discovering all that is on offer for the younger audiences at the festival.
So, for 2025, our top recommendations are :
The Listies : Make Some Noise – Readers of this blog will know that we LOVE LOVE LOVE the Listies !! I defy anyone to see them and not come out with your cheeks and belly hurting from laughing so hard. This is a previous much loved show (see our review here). They are back by POOPular demand, and this is a loud, fun show featuring all kind of musical delights…For over a decade kids comedy maestros The Listies have toured the world doing shows for literally gazillions of kidults (that’s kids and their adults). Now it’s your turn. Make Some Noise! is a comedy concert for humans aged 4-400.
FLIP Fabrique: Six° – Again, we LOVE Flip Fabrique and have been blown away by any show they bring to the fringe and so we are sure this will be no exception. They are astounding acrobats and really push themselves to the edge, which always elicits gasps from the audience and any children we bring are fully mesmerised. Five individuals who do not know each other receive a mysterious invitation that leads them, on a stormy night, to an old, abandoned building deep in the forest. These visitors will discover that this house has a soul and a personality all of its own.
Massaoke: Sing The Musicals – I have been wanting to go to Massaoke for years – and now they’re bringing this family friendly show to the fringe – we’re huge musical fans in this household, so cannot wait for this ! (I personally also cannot wait to go to Massaoke: 90s live too). This limited run live band lunchtime sing-along show is a dream come true for musicals fans of all ages, raising the curtain on all your favourite hits from stage and screen. Featuring songs from Mamma Mia, Hamilton, Frozen, The Greatest Showman, Dirty Dancing, Les Mis, Jungle Book, We Will Rock You, Phantom, Mary Poppins and many more…
The Box Show – We all love the humble cardboard box and it’s potential for creativity and imagination and this show looks like it will provide those things in abundance along with being colourful, fun and noisy ! Four rhythmical misfits turn ordinary junk into extraordinary funk! With explosive drumming, dance, comedy and imagination, this show transforms everyday items – wheelie bins, cardboard boxes, plastic bags – into a riot of rhythmic creativity. It’s fast-paced, funny and full of surprises.
Monsterrrr! with Trygve Wakenshaw – I’ve seen Trygve in some adult shows in the festival before and they have been both bonkers and amazing, he is very talented – so I have high hopes for this children’s show ! Argh! A monster! A hideous, evil monster! With nasty claws, bristles and horns. It’s disgusting and gross and… very, very lonely. So what?! Serves him right. It’s his own fault! But wait, the monster isn’t so bad after all: it’s big and strong, tough and clever. It has nothing to hide and doesn’t give a damn about rules and manners. It’s exciting, different, funny and not a bit boring. Do you dare to shake the monster’s hand?
Dream Space – Part of the Korean season, this show looks gentle and immersive and a tonic from some of the more loud and brash parts of the festival. Dream Space invites you into a world where the ordinary becomes extraordinary. Through enchanting puppetry, music and movement, embark on a thrilling island adventure and a heartfelt encounter with a majestic whale. This immersive performance blends laughter, wonder and healing – rekindling childhood innocence for adults and sparking creativity in young audiences. As reality and fantasy merge, the stage transforms into a Dream Space, where stories breathe, and magic unfolds.
By A Thread – I liked the sound of this show, involving thirty metres of rope – and thought it could inspire many young minds and imaginations alike…Seven acrobats and thirty metres of rope… Long spools of white rope run through pulley sheaves and wrap around bodies, connecting the artists’ movements above and off the ground. By a Thread weaves virtuosic acrobatics and intricate choreography through moments of confusion, hilarity, romance, playfulness, fear and friendship, uncovering the threads of connection present in all relationships.
Snow White Rose Red Bear Brown – Theatre of Widdershins have brought some of my very favourite and much loved shows to the fringe in years gone by, so I’m hoping this show will have lots of that same magic, intricate puppetry and sets and will be filled with wonder. Snow White and Rose Red have lived in the forest since they were Babes in the Wood. Brought up by their Mother to be kind and caring… if sometimes a little over-enthusiastic! When their quiet life is interrupted by a friendly bear a new chapter begins. But why has the bear chosen them as playfellows? Why is he so sad? And who on earth is that rude little man who keeps appearing?
Olaf Falafel’s Stupidest Super Stupid Show – New Improved Recipe – Olaf Falafel is back, and we’ve really enjoyed previous shows and are super excited for this improved version ! Promising lots of giggles for accompanying adults and jokes, games, drawing and much silliness for the littler ones amongst you. Expect drawing, jokes and maybe a poo on a pogo stick!
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Mario the Maker Magician – Returning to the fringe this year, Mario promises to amaze you with his tricks and robot. This came highly recommended to me previously, so we’re going to make time to catch it this time round. Mario the Maker Magician returns for a limited season only! Bringing his robot magic live from New York, Mario returns to Edinburgh with a show full of original magic, handmade robots and modern slapstick. Fast-paced, interactive and full of heart, Mario leads you through a romping explosion of contagious energy and belly laughs.
Hello hello !! Well, we’ve had our one day of summer here in Edinburgh, so that must mean the fringe is coming !!!! In all seriousness, I can see the city gearing up for another awesome August and as always, I’m ridiculously excited by it all…in a few weeks times, the city will be transformed and hopefully we’ll all be out enjoying everything the festival has to offer, and fingers and toes crossed – we’ll be doing it all surrounded by sun beams.
It’s now routine for me to say that I find it so difficult to whittle down all the incredible offerings for the younger people into a top ten each year – for the full list, check out here for all the children’s shows currently advertised and that doesn’t even include all the great circus or magic shows. We have firm favourites returning and there will always be something new that will delight us or catch our attention – or worse, that I may not discover until too late ! I’ve made it easier once again, and I’ll be doing a top five for shows for younger children, and another top picks list for shows for older children/teens…
I’ll start with our old friends and firm favourites :
The Listies ROFL – We LOVE LOVE LOVE the Listies and they are fantastic for adults and kids alike. I defy anyone to watch their show and not have a great time and come out with aching cheeks from all the giggling. Infact, I think everyone will come out just wanting to go back in and watch it all over again, like we always do! ..’. ROFL tackles the most dramatic family situation of all time: bedtime! Rich, the exhausted parental proxy, tries to get an early night while Matt uses every trick in the book to stay up.‘ August 2nd – 18th ( not 8th/15th )
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Olaf Falafel’s Stupidest Super Stupid Show So Far – Having been wanting to see Olaf Falafel for a long time, we finally managed last year and were not disappointed (I was only sad I didn’t also wear stripes). This year’s show promises more of all the best funny and stupid stuff – Expect sausage birds, radioactive bogies and truth-telling cheese. There will definitely be some farts and some drawing. – 1st – 25th August (not 14th/20th/21st)
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The Bookbinder – Now, you are in for a TOTAL treat if you see this – there are only a handful of shows and it’s in the most tiny of venues. I still think about this show ALOT, which is amazing as I saw it back in 2016 – wowsers- read the review here !! It’s being held in the beautiful Tills bookshop and will be incredible – if you can get a ticket that is !! The Bookbinder weaves shadow-play, paper art, puppetry and music in an inventive one-man performance for adults and children aged 8 and over. – 8th, 9th, 16th, 23rd August.
The Alphabet of Awesome Science – I’ve heard good things about this and reckon it’ll be a loud, fun one for the kids…Join Professors Lexi Con and Noel Edge (the Word Nerd and the Science Freak) for a thrilling voyage through the alphabet – where fascinating words inspire spectacular science! It’s a tongue-twisting race from A to Z that’s equal parts explosive, messy, hilarious, fascinating and gross. Brace yourself for an hour of carefully crafted alphabetical, scientifical chaos. – 31st July – 25th August (not 12th/19th)
How to Catch a Book Witch – This looks like a great show for all book lovers out there – Kira loves reading. Visiting the library is her favourite. But why are words disappearing from the books and where have all these book monsters come from?! Could there be a Book Witch hiding somewhere? Graham Grey plans to knock down the library to make way for a car park! Join Kira and Barry the Bookworm on this heart-warming adventure to save the day. – 31st July – 18th August ( not 7th /14th )
Circa: Humans 2.0 – Returning to the fringe, with their exceptional talents are Circa – we were astounded by this show and its previous version…. Ten bodies appear in a flash of light. They move in harmony for a fleeting moment, then descend into a sinuous trance. Towers grow and decay, bodies leap and are caught, physical limits are pushed to their extreme. The second chapter of Circa’s internationally acclaimed Humans is a symphony of acrobatics, sound and light. This is next level circus by Circa.2nd – 24th August (not7th/12th/19th)
Tom Brace: The Ride 4D – We love Tom Brace, he’s a brilliant mix of magic and charm and seamlessly entertains the audience whilst totally baffling them. He pitches perfectly for children and adults, so we’re very much looking forward to this new show. Magician Tom Brace has opened his very own theme park and you’re invited to the grand opening. Expect the unexpected on hilarious new attractions that will blow your mind. – 31st July – 26th August (not13th/20th)
Ten Thousand Hours – Gravity and other myths return to Edinburgh with what is sure to be a spectacular show. We really loved their previous show ‘A Simple Space’ are so are excited to see what’s in store for us this year. This is an ode to the countless hours needed to achieve great things. Eight acrobats investigate physical skill: how we obtain it, how we perfect it and how it can transform our lives. This family-friendly acrobatic extravaganza is filled with everything you love about Gravity & Other Myths and a tribute to the dedication required to become a world-class acrobat. – 1st – 24th August ( not 12th/19th)
Children Are Stinky – Another returnee to the fringe and one we really loved way back when we saw it – read our review here. One for the slightly younger audience and full of fun… High-calibre circus, a rocking soundtrack and genuine belly laughs have thrilled audiences all over the globe. Expect daredevil stunts, incredible aerials, lightning-fast acrobatics, loads of laughs and mischievous fun, leaving adults and children with their jaws on the floor hooting for more. – 1st – 26th August (not 7th/12th/19th)
Circus Baobab: Yé! – Making their debut at the fringe, this looks like a high energy, fun circus show for everyone. An exciting collective of artists from Guinea and the diaspora bring their debut show, Yé!, to Edinburgh. Showcasing incredible acrobatics, vertiginous human pyramids, hand-to-hand combat and contortions all performed in a frenetic rhythm. ‘Full of punch and blending traditional expressions of circus with modernity’ (Télérama), the thirteen young artists call us together to build a world of tomorrow that will take care of nature and it’s future. – 3rd – 24th August (not 12th/19th)
Firstly, I need to apologise for my rather tardy top ten this year !! A return to University and a looming dissertation on top of my day job has all kept me rather busy….and to be honest, festival season has somewhat crept up on me ! BUT, the excitement is real and I cannot believe that in a few weeks, Edinburgh will be full of the hustle and bustle of festival fever !
As usual, its a hard task to whittle down my favourites from the incredible list of children’s shows coming to Edinburgh this August – check them all out here… there are of course a few of my favourites returning and half of the magic is knowing that there are as yet undiscovered new shows to delight us this year too !!
I’ll begin with our firm favourites, as that’s a good place to start and an easy choice !! ….
The Listies Make Some Noise – We are 110% ready for this !….As always, readers of this blog will know that we ALL love the Listies here in this household and we know that this will be full of their usual brand of comedy to keep us all laughing for days ! A new show based on their last album, this is sure to delight all ages – An insane mixtape of silly songs, stupid sketches and crazy clowning! – August 4th – 20th (not 10th/17th)
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Trash Test Dummies – Another favourite group of performers for us, and we are SO happy they are returning with this much loved show from previous years. ‘Starting off slowly, but building momentum, these Australian performers pitch their circus and acrobatic show perfectly for families and young children. They are able to perform an inexhaustible number of tricks with the mundane wheely bin, much to the delight of the crowd.‘….Everyone put your rubbish out, tonight’s bin night and the Trash Test Dummies are on duty! – August 5th – 26th (not 14th/21st)
Tom Brace: A Trick Down memory Lane – Completing our trio of much loved performers is Tom Brace. We’ve really enjoyed his previous magic shows and have been left stunned and amazed by what he is able to trick us into believing ! This new show promises to be more of what we love and is sure to entertain all ages – August 2nd – 28th (not 16th)
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IMA – I heard about this show at a recent press launch and it sounds intriguing and exciting and therefore well worth checking out ! IMA (Pray) is an immersive circus experience. In the installation space reminiscent of sacred places, we participate in a unique ritual guided by the performer, who becomes a 21st-century shaman taking the audience into the unknown territories of the human mind. Out at Murrayfield ice-rink but sounds worth the visit – August 4th -27th (not 15th/22nd )
The 7 Fingers: Duel Reality – I’m VERY excited 7 fingers are back this year and this sounds fantastic and full of their usual magic – This is circus on a whole new theatrical level. Star-crossed lovers. Two opposing teams. The stage is an arena. Competition can be playful at times, but also dangerously serious. Which side will you choose? – August 4th – 26th (not 9th/14th/21st)
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Olaf Falafel’s Super Stupid Show (20% More Stupider) – Olaf Falafel returns to Edinburgh this year, bringing his unique charm and comedy with him. I’ve got a confession – despite really wanting to catch his show last year and being told how great it was – I never made it…arrggg, so I will not let that be happening this year ! There will be truth-telling cheese, fishing, ducks, bumbags, sausages and maybe some drawing. – August 2nd – 27th (not 16th/22nd/23rd)
Afrique en Cirque – New to Edinburgh this year, Afrique en Cirque – a show by Yamoussa Bangoura, inspired by daily life in Guinea. This performance shares the beauty, youth and artistry of African culture. A colourful show beyond its scenery, costumes and staging, that will make any theatre vibrate with energy. It represents strength, agility and life’s joys of young Africans. The audience will see our acrobats execute gravity-defying moves and human pyramids, all to the contemporary sounds of Afro-Jazz, percussion, and kora.- August 3rd – 28th (not 9th/16th/23rd)
Marcel Lucont: Les Enfants Terribles – A Gameshow For Awful Children – With only a short run last year, I didn’t catch this and again heard great things – I’m familiar with Marcel’s adult performances and if they’re anything to go by, this should be fantastic ! The wild interactive game show returns, where kids get to be pests, politicians and petomanes to be crowned the most awful child. See what happens when international insouciance meets infantile exuberance. – August 2nd – 21st
Lightning Ridge – From the brilliant Catherine Wheels company comes this story about 12-year-old Ashmol who lives in the Australian Outback with his mum, dad and his little sister Kellyanne… and her two invisible friends Pobby and Dingan. When Pobby and Dingan disappear, Ashmol decides that there is only one thing to do for the sake of his sister – find them. A story about the possibility of dreams, about a community coming together, the preciousness of hope and how, sometimes, we have to believe in the impossible.- August 4th – 20th (not 7th/14th)
A Bee Story – Returning after a successful run last year – A Bee Story is a uniquely Australian physical theatre show for children and families incorporating a kaleidoscope of circus, acrobatics, dance and live music. It tells the story of Queen Bee and Worker Bee who must work together to rebuild their hive after being destroyed by a bushfire. But things never quite go to plan…A Bee Story has themes of environmentalism, sustainability and community spirit. – August 4th – 27th (not 14th/21st)
And seeing as I couldn’t squish everyone I’d like to into this list – I’d just like to mention that some of our previously loved shows that we’ve reviewed are returning in 2023, including :
I love the Kidzone at the Pleasance…with it’s puppet shows, toys, picnic tables, free colouring, the fantastic and very reasonable arts and crafts activities and of course, the fabulous Green cafe, keeping all us awake and enthused with hot drinks !!
It makes for a perfect day out if you combine it with checking out a show or two from the fantastic 16 children’s shows on offer at the Pleasance this year !
Some of my top picks are :
The Giant Jam Sandwich – I love reading this book with my kids and am very curious into how they’ll be adapting it for the stage !! Expect rhymes and silliness galore!
The Gruffalo’s Child – Tall Stories make great theatre for kids, and sticking to much loved Julia Donadlson books seems to be working out for them very well !! Expect the usual beautiful puppets, inventive sets and musical melodies !
Mavis Sparkle – With a magician for a Dad and a stargazer for a Mum, no wonder there’s more to Mavis than meets the eye! This looks rather magical and adventurous !
The Listies Make You LOL – Returning from their successful run last year, the Listies are hilarious, messy and decidedly insane. Featuring alien attacks, toilet paper guns and the most disgusting pair of underpants you have ever seen in your life !
The Pleasance will be returning to the EICC again this year, and bringing along this lovely looking piece for little ones :
The Polar Bears Go up – The Polar Bears are moving up in the world. They’ve lost their balloon and they need to get it back. It’s time to get up, step up, climb up, jump up. One thing’s for sure, the only way is up! These lovable Polar Bears are intrepid explorers, famous for their wild expeditions.
I love the 
The Giant Jam Sandwich
The Gruffalo’s Child
The Listies Make You LOL
The Polar Bears Go up
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