Tag Archives: underbelly circus hub

Circus Hub at the Meadows !!

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The Underbelly Circus hub at the meadows is now officially OPEN !!

We love this venue and this year it’s featuring the extra exciting addition of a sauna !! One for the adults, but could be an option if you have some spare time whilst kids are being entertained ?!

There are loads of great kids shows at the Circus Hub this year – so definitely worth checking out :

The Ugly Ducking – For littler kids- A reimagining of the classic coming-of-age tale with an acrobatic twist! Bringing together the best of circus and storytelling to produce an energetic, hilarious yet heart-warming family-friendly experience focusing on celebrating difference and finding your tribe.

Trash Test Dummies – Our much loved dummies are back ! WE love this show – full of chaos and giggles. winning, side-splitting, slapstick comedy, circus routine retakes the household wheelie bin to new heights and delivers a dump truck full of hilarity!

Flip Fabrique: Six – We LOVE Flip Fabrique so are super excited about this ! Dive into this astonishing acrobatic comedy where the ordinary becomes extraordinary and ingenuity is always at play! On this planet, we are within six degrees of separation from knowing everyone. And since there are only five on stage, it makes you wonder: could the missing connection be you?

The Flying Bubble Show – Dive into a magical world where dreams and reality blur in a breathtaking fusion of bubble magic and aerial flight. Maxwell the Bubbleologist soars above the stage, creating millions of shimmering bubbles with every leap and twirl.

The Nose Dive Assembly – We love Revel Puck Circus ! – In Nose Dive Assembly we meet Pierrot, the distracted mistress of ceremonies – but she can’t focus. The circus swirls around her, yet something’s holding her back. While the troupe take to the skies, she’s stuck on the ground. She yearns to fly.

Top Five Shows for the even littler little ones 2025

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As the number of children’s shows at Edinburgh festival increases, there are even more opportunities to introduce even the littlest of little ones to the joys of live theatre and interactive productions…shows catered to very young audiences can be some of the most memorable, with beautiful colourful sets, costumes, interactive moments and lots of creativity ! Here are our top five picks for this year for those under five…

Hello Birds – This looks perfect for babies, a gentle introduction to sensory shows. . Join Bran and Tor in the Garden and say hello to the birds that visit. Help feed them, build soft nests, and join in with their songs. The show uses colour, sound, texture and smell to immerse little ones in the world of birds, using puppets, baby-safe props, singing and key-word signing. Age 0-36 months

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Out of the Box – This sounds like an exciting show for little ones, full of surprises and featuring the humble box. Every time the box opens, it’s a new adventure: trick shots, circus performances and laugh-out-loud moments that invite everyone to join in the fun. Darryl’s mission is to make you the star of the show (no embarrassing moments here, just pure joy!). Age 0+

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The Ugly Duckling – We saw the Revel Puck Circus two years ago and loved them, so we are sure this show will be filled with the same warmth, humour and incredible skills. It was a bright and sunny day at the circus when the Ugly Duckling waddled up to their trapeze… Wait. Are we really still using the word ‘ugly’? Aren’t we rewriting this story to be about belonging and celebrating difference? A reimagining of the classic coming-of-age tale with an acrobatic twist! Age 0+

Rajiv’s Starry Feelings – A storytelling show for smaller children, looking at big feelings… Rajiv has feelings for everything. He can feel confident, happy and silly. But today, he feels angry, and he doesn’t know why. With the help of his father, Rajiv sets out on a journey to make sense of his feelings. Age 2 +

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Dragon Babies – Our very mini-reviewers have previously loved shows by this company, so we’re looking forward to this one ! Dragon Song Productions is a specialist early-years theatre company based in Edinburgh. Their shows are a must for new babies, as they integrate an interactive age-appropriate props bag into the 40-minute production along with live music and beautiful tactile puppets. Age 0+

We should also give an honourable mention to our firm favourites Trash Test Dummies, much loved by all of us here at edinburghfestivalsforkids…we’ve seen this show multiple times, and have always giggled non-stop from start to finish – read our previous review here…Age 0+

Creative and Curious Circus Hub 2018…

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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 !!!

Super Spectacular Circus Hub 2017

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Image result for edinburgh circus hubThe rather fantastic Circus Hub has returned to the Meadows this year, bringing with it a huge range of family friendly circus shows and some old favourites like the Trash Test Dummies ! I’ve already been lucky enough to check a few of the shows out, and also sample the delicious churros on sale !!

It feels like the variety of circus shows grows at the festival every year, and this year we have a bumper crop of superb circus to choose from, and rather fantastically, most of the shows are family friendly – yay !!

My top five picks are :

Arr We There Yet ? – Head first Acrobats bring us a kids show full of pirates, swashbuckling adventures, some amazing acrobatics and lots and lots of fun ! We had a fantastic time and the kids couldn’t stop giggling ……(and these guys have the most amazing and fun show for adults – Elixir – I’ve seen it twice now and it’s absolutely hilarious-just don’t bring the kids! )

Trash Test Dummies – These guys are a firm favourite with my family – dustbins, acrobatics and much silliness ! What more do you need ? (read  review  here)

 

All The Fun – A hypnotic, tongue-in-cheek antidote to the glittering circus world. You’re invited beyond the everyday 1, 2, 3 of juggling in an ever-changing space, with the performers balancing objects and throwing bodies, rendering failure just as visible as sweat.

Circus Abyssinia:Ethiopian Dreams – An unashamedly joyful mix of astonishing stunts, astounding circus skills and enchanted adventure, Circus Abyssinia: Ethiopian Dreams follows the magical journey of two little Ethiopian brothers whose dream of joining the circus is made real by the Man in the Moon.

Kin – The boys from the 2015 smash Bromance are back in this red-hot, five-star circus show… and they’ve brought friends! Lots of humour makes this circus piece really accessible for families, and children will be amazed at the talents and skills of the performers. Highly recommended….