The Bubble Show

• David Pollock
• 23 August 2019

This article is from 2019

Engaging showmanship from bubble maestro the Highland Joker

The greater an array of kids bubble shows you see at the Fringe, the more you become aware there's largely a set repertoire of tricks which performers stick to. So the success (or otherwise) of the show comes down to the star's engagement with the audience, and the sense of fun and camaraderie which they develop, particularly with the youngest members of the crowd.

In which case, our host here – based in Auckland, New Zealand, he goes only by the name the 'Highland Joker' – is one of the better ones; a warm and friendly guy with a sense of showmanship that isn't overbearing or scary.

His tricks are pretty good, too and there's much to see that's novel; particularly with his use of a lightbox to create elaborate structures upon, including a tiered series of bubbles within bubbles, like the strata of a planet.

He also demonstrates to the audience how regular objects can be used for bubble-blowing, including a toilet roll tube, the handle of a pair of scissors and a trumpet, and gives one shower-capped volunteer from the crowd an elaborate hairstyle made of streams of bubbles.

Next to these many of the tricks might be more familiar, yet the skill of placing moving smoke bubbles within bubbles and enshrouding audience members within bubbles of their own is enthralling and impressive.

Assembly George Square Gardens, until 26 Aug, 10.40am, £12–£10 (£10–£8).