Reviews & features: Kids, Brian Donaldson

Kid loves - Children's books round-up

Edinburgh International Book Festival

Harry Potter may have played his last game of Quidditch and Lemony Snicket’s series of events have unfortunately ceased to be, but there are still plenty of iconic figures hanging around in children’s literature. Brian Donaldson finds ten of them…

James Robertson - And the Land Lay Still

One of Scotland's most vital authors tackles our Q&A

James Robertson has been long-listed for the Man Booker Prize of 2006 for The Testament of Gideon Mack and has just published And The Land Lay Still.

Kids Events

When Miranda Richardson so memorably played the child-like Queen Elizabeth I in Blackadder, a career in entertaining kids seemed to be in the offing. With Horrid Henry (16 Aug) she appears to have finally grasped that opportunity by voicing the little…

Kids' events

The last few days of the kids programme takes a walk on the dark side with scary-sounding events such as Night of the Living Horror (25 Aug, 6pm) which opens up a world of gothic terror for those aged ten plus, though Justin Somper and his Vampirates…

Edinburgh International Book Festival: Top 5 Kids events

Patrick Ness, Michael Morpurgo, Louise Rennison, Doctor Who and more

Patrick Ness With A Monster Calls, Ness is cementing his already burgeoning reputation as a must-read author for the 12-16 group. When this book about a boy dealing with his mother’s battle against cancer won him the Carnegie Medal, Ness said the…

Kaput

Choreographed mayhem was never this beautiful

If Billy the Mime is channelling the likes of Neil Hamburger and Denis Leary (early 90s non-bouffant version) in his celebrity scandal-fixated show, Tom Flanagan is tapping straight back into the golden era of silent comedy for his child-friendly show.

Five Kids TV stars to catch at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2012

Seen these folks on the box before? You must be a parent then

Dan Wright Fans of Big Cook, Little Cook might have difficulty recognising Mr Wright who played the latter given that he has shed his specs and is no longer three inches tall. Curiously, his Fringe show has a sort-of childlike theme given that it’s…

Comedy Club 4 Kids

Heckle-happy crowd nearly stump the pros

It’s perceived wisdom that kids are a tough crowd. No matter how naturally witty you are, getting a child to laugh is often a triumph of hard-nosed perseverance. But who knew that nippers could deliver the most savage of heckles, here displaying the…

Surrealism and stupidity of Dr Brown Brown Brown Brown Brown kids show

Absurdist comic Phil Burgers a refreshing antidote to corporate Fringe

Anyone who saw last year’s late-night Fringe anarchy from Dr Brown may raise an eyebrow to learn that he’s now doing a kids’ show, as well as another full-on physically comedic adult hour. To the man behind the mask, absurdist American comic Phil…

Don't Run with Scissors

A Betrayal of Penguins can't quite regain of glory of 2009

Like most glorious debut ventures, the ‘difficult second album’ syndrome is a tough nut to batter. And try as they might, A Betrayal of Penguins just can’t quite regain the glory of 2009 in their new show, Don’t Run with Scissors. Some might point to a…

Twinkle Twonkle makes children's theatre from nursery rhymes

Tall Stories return to Fringe after success of The Gruffalo

Though they’ll always be best known for their charming adaptation of The Gruffalo, there’s a whole lot more to Tall Stories than a pair of terrible teeth. Regular visitors to the Fringe for over a decade, the company is known for its winning combination…

Edinburgh Festival 2010: More Fringe show highlights

Some of the shows to look out for at the Fringe

With over 2,400 shows to choose from at this years Fringe festival, it's all to easy to succumb to the paradox of choice. Here we present our picks for some of the smaller shows that are worth looking out for.

Edinburgh International Science Festival

World of Wonder

Once upon a time, only the biggest geeks at school were ever even vaguely interested in the ways and doings of test tubes and Bunsen burners. Nowadays, it’s not just the cool kids who are getting into science, as everyone with an interest in making any…