Children's theatre at the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe for a fiver

2012 Edinburgh Festival offers a host of great-value kids show previews

This article is from 2012.

Each year, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has more and more shows to tempt families. From theatre pieces to circus shows, you could easily spend three weeks (and a month’s salary) straddling the good-taste line between charming puppetry and jokes about poo.

So before the madness gets properly underway, venture out and enjoy reduced rate tickets at the preview shows. Not everyone offers previews, but, happily, this year some of the finest children’s theatre companies around are giving you the chance to enjoy their wares for £5 or £6 a head.

Head to the Traverse Theatre’s temporary Fringe home at the Scottish Book Trust, where talented puppeteer Shona Reppe is performing The Curious Scrapbook of Josephine Bean (3 Aug, £6), and the superb Catherine Wheels theatre company present The Ballad of Pondlife McGurk (3 Aug, £6).

Next door at the Scottish Storytelling Centre you’ll find the always wonderful Theatre of Widdershins, and their best show to date, The Elves and the Shoemaker (31 July–1 Aug, £6.50/£4.50). Also at that venue, Ailie Cohen’s acclaimed Cloud Man returns (1–2 Aug, £6/£4).

Two very different, but equally entertaining, shows are previewing at Pleasance Courtyard. Andy and Mike’s Tick Tock Time Machine (1–3 Aug, £6) features Andy Day from CBeebies, while The Snail and the Whale (1–3 Aug, £5) is the latest treat from Gruffalo company Tall Stories (pictured).

Fans of Julia Donaldson could also head to the Underbelly in Bristo Square, where the excellent Scamp Theatre are performing Tiddler and other Terrific Tales (2–3 Aug, £6).

Various venues, Edinburgh, 1–3 Aug

Visit edfringe.com for full venue details, full show dates and times.