Reviews & features: Kids, Issue 637

Lighter Than Air

Balloon antics provoke belly laughs

It’s amazing the fun that can be generated from a few simple props. When clown Danny Schlesinger plods on stage wearing a too-tight suit and a deadpan expression, his arms weighed down with three enormous yellow balloons, you wonder whether he will be…

Twine

Moving tale of twine-made being brewed in a teapot

Riddles Court off the Royal Mile makes a suitably atmospheric location for the first Fringe show from Edinburgh-based children’s theatre company, Tortoise in a Nutshell. Their tale – in which a group of tea and cupcake-loving storytellers inadvertently…

The Brothers Lionheart

Heavy tale of death and doom

Jonathan and his little brother, Rusky set off an adventure that changes their lives forever. It’s a tale of dragons and monsters, and the mighty Tengil who has the villagers of Nangilaya living in fear. The boys must man-up and fight back against…

Baxterbear's Tales: Storytelling for all

Globe-trotting bear with a tale to tell

With so many Fringe shows taking place in small, dark quarters, it’s refreshing (and not a little exciting) to attend one in the rather more grand surroundings of the Caledonian Hotel. Having been greeted by a giant-sized Baxterbear in the foyer, we’re…

Wind in the Willows

Beastly adaptation uses its loaf

You never quite know what you’re going to get from a student production at the Fringe, but this group of actors (and I use the word in the truest sense) from Cambridge University is a cut above the rest. Each character is clearly defined – the…

Patrick Monahan's Stories and Fables for Kids That Like to Sit at Tables!

Fringe stalwart ups the ante in lovely kids comedy

When asked to queue quietly for Patrick Monahan’s first show for kids, one young audience member groans, ‘It’s just like being at school.’ It’s a shame then that more teachers aren’t like Monahan, whose artful blend of comedy, storytelling and energetic…

Manolibera

Clever cartoons for all ages

Although not strictly speaking a children’s show (it’s in the Dance & Physical Theatre section of the Fringe programme), this is a wonderful example of how a piece of theatre can cross the generational divide. Italian company, Scarlattine Teatro has…

Puppet show round-up from the Edinburgh Festival

Rounding up the best acts made of socks, sponges and foam

Puppetry acts are the black sheep of the performing arts family: indulged but not held in serious regard. Shitty Deal Puppet Theatre Company’s Oh! What a Shitty War (●●) recounts the history of warfare with hand puppets. Mistaking the charmingly…

Doctor Austin and Doug Safety's Time-Tastical Time Tale

It’s science Jim, but not as we know it

Time travel is a gift to fiction writers, but when it comes to the facts, even Doctor Who had to resort to describing it as ‘a big ball of wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff’. Dr Austin and Doug Safety have set themselves a hard task. Starting with…

Ice Cream Man and the Jelly Incident

Pies fight puddings in this chuckle-worthy children’s tale

With its healthy eating message and cheeky send-up of a celebrity chef, there’s an educational element to Ice Cream Man and the Jelly Incident that many parents will love. Yet it’s delivered with such fiercely imaginative silliness that children won’t…

The Legend of Magnificent Moon

Interactive African tale

There’s a charming simplicity to this new show by Edinburgh-based Toto Tales, which you can’t help but warm to. Inspired by a traditional African tale, the story centres on two brothers – the Moon and the Sun – who love each other dearly, but find their…

5 questions: Potted Potter and Potted Pirates

With two high-speed shows on the go, David and John, stars of Potted Potter and Potted Pirates whiz through our 5 Questions. Give 5 reasons why people should see your shows They’re funny; interactive; action packed; have music; and are themed…

Visualise Reloaded

There are an awful lot of confusingly big words in the world of science – which is why these guys don’t use any at all. Instead, Science Made Simple blend physical theatre with live science demonstrations, projected images and music to create a…

Kids Events at the Book Festival

The events and authors for the younger generation

Old favourites for kids include Michael Morpurgo (22 Aug), Malorie Blackman (22 Aug), Jacqueline Wilson (23 Aug), Anne Fine (23 Aug), Julia Donaldson (24 Aug), and Terry Deary of horrible history stardom (28 Aug), but there’s a whole lucky-dip of events…