Festival Recommendations:

[nankypeevy]

Anything that you've happened across that is just fabby? Share, share, share!

Here's mine: Virginia Gay at the Speigeltent. £15 (but, ask about 2:1's at the box office) 8pm. Dirty PRetty Songs. She sings raunchy nice stuff and nice rude stuff - and, I have to say it is the BEST show I've seen in a long time. She's very, very good with a great husky voice and amazing sexy demeanor whilst keeping on all of her clothes.

She's an Ozzie actress, you'll recognise her from Winners and Losers.

Fab.

Forgive the plugging but the Edinburgh student radio station www.freshair.org.uk is devoting a day of their festival coverage to Children's Shows at the festival.

So on Monday 6th (tomorrow!), every guest that comes in for an interview between 11am-6pm (13 guests!) will be representing a children's show at the fringe. Hopefully that helps gives parents a greater idea of what the shows are all about as well as let you know a little more about what the people behind them were thinking when they thought of bringing their show to Edinburgh.

You can tune in via the 'listen' section on the www.freshair.org.uk website or in iTunes Radio -> College/University -> Fresh Air.

I apologise if this is inappropriate advertising and I understand if moderators need to delete this message. I just hope it's informative as I feel that children's shows aren't given nearly enough coverage at the festival. It's not all comedy, you know!

I really enjoyed the Magician's Daughter on at the Reid Hall. Took a 5 yo, 4yo, and a 3yo and they were all entranced - so was I. It's a spin off of the Tempest.

Everything else I've seen so far has been pretty average.

We've not seen any shows as we're skint, but we wandered down the high street, seeing all the performers then later went to the mound and watched some of the Street Performers while having ice cream. I've walked over 6 miles today. No wonder I feel like my legs may fall off and the weather was lovely today.

I took my DS to see the magic porridge pot which he enjoyed!

A great show for parents is Monkey Bars at the Traverse. It is by Chris Goode & Co and features the voices of children, spoken by adults in adult situations. It gives kids a different voice in an adult world and is a really interesting (and funny) one for parents.
I'd also recommend Super John at the Pleasance for 6+.

We went to the amazing bubble man show at George Square. The children seemed to love it but there is only so much you can do with bubbles for an hour.

Agree about the bubble man. Zzzzzzzzz

Unicorn - I've heard that one being reviewed on the radio. Sounded great.

Though, I am glad it's not one of MY kids' voices being given stage time...it's embarrassing enough with the "news" at school!

Unicorn - how did you manage to see Monkey Bars, are they doing previews? Or, have you got an inside link?

We're going out tomorrow, sans enfants, and I rather fancied seeing it...so, if you know how I can I'd be Very Grateful.

We really enjoyed Absolute Improv Stories at space@Surgeon's Hall - really got the kids imaginations going and kept them making up stories for the rest of the day!
Looking forward to Horrible Histories too...

Took my dd's - 5 & 2.3 - to Tiddler Tales today. We all really enjoyed it, the same people who did Stick Man last year. Quite pacy which I was glad of for the 2.3yr old, I was nervous of taking her but she was fine, despite being generally grumpy today!

Not been to any grown up shows yet but my pal at work saw Nina Conti, Adam Hills, Sarah Kendall and Charlie Baker - she really liked all of them... have got a night out next Sat for our anniversary and we're seeing Russell Kane and Adam Hills so fingers crossed they're good!

Hi - Can I resurrect this thread? Hoping to take dc's aged 10 & 12 through from Glasgow for the day and wondering what would work well for them (and me!) They are both quite musical/theatrical but I think would enjoy (appropriate) comedy too! Anything, really, except for serious theatre. Just want one good show and some street wandering. Thanks!

Might be a bit young with a 10 and 12 year old but we saw The Elves and Shoemaker at the Scottish Storytelling Centre yesterday and my two loved it - a mixture of puppets and acting. It was a good, quality show - well-thought out and very cleverly done.

A friend also went to see the Magician's Daughter which was apparently excellent.

Paperbelle at the botanics was great for the under 5s.

I'll second the recommendation for Tiddler - DD (3.4 was transfixed).

Also nearly fell off my seat at Dylan Moran - there's one more show in a week or so, although I suspect it'll havesold out long ago

Anyone got any recommendations for older kids? It's just one day so can't really try things out.

Ballad of pondlife mcgurk might be good for older kids - its recommended for 9+. Not seen it myself ( my kids are younger) but it is produced by Catherine wheels theatre who are usually excellent.