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This week’s underage ente ainment
INTERACTIVE WAX-WORKS ALL THINGS WAX AND WONDERFUL Waxing mythical
And then there was light! If the light ever breaks through these dark Edinburgh skies. the Meadows should offer a sight to behold. Just off Middle Meadow Walk stands the Wax Room. Backlit wax-works provide the cavernous setting of their children‘s show. All Things Wax and Wonderful (for ages 6-plus). The audio-visual experience features volcanoes. big skies. deserts. forests and a free sample from the wax-mine. (Ruth Hedges) I The Wax RoomThe Meadows. 07727 723 033, 4—37 Aug, 70am (and then every half hour until 2pm), £4.50 (£2.50).
FESTIVAL TIPS
HOW TO SURVIVE THE FESTIVAL WITH KIDS
Ten ways to make the festival tear- free for you and your family
1 Avoid shows that don't state an age range — ‘hilarious show for all the family' often means they're making it up as they go along.
2 If in doubt. play safe and pick shows that are adaptations of Children‘s books: at least someone wrote something down once.
3 The Book Festival is an oasis of cairn. Mountains of books. st0rytellers. art projects. ice cream. clean grass. alcohol fOr mum and dad and free entry for some events.
4 Be prepared to withstand mind- numbing street theatre several times a day because your kids will love it. Never mind though - it IS free.
5 Let the kids wriggle to the front to watch it. no one will mind: anything is better than having them leadenly on
your shoulders for half an hour.
6 If you really want to impress them. coolly volunteer to assist the knife thrower/fire juggler.
7 If your kids like to be the ones throwing the knives. get to the show early and grab the front row seats.
8 Likewise if your kids like to be able to see the stage get there early as very few venues have decent sightlines for anyone under five foot. 9 Let off steam in the open spaces tucked away in the centre of town: Greyfriars Kirkyard is lush and peaceful: and Dunbar's Close. 137 Canongate is a seCret 17th century garden. Wave from the bridge in Princes Street Gardens and
46 THE LIST FESTIVAL GUIDE 8—1:") Aug 200?
train drivers will hoot back.
10 Take the free galleries bus from the
mound (on the hour from 11am) up to
the Dean and Modern Art Galleries.
The kids may not care for the art but
the cafes are good. there's lots of
open space and also access to the
lovely leafy Water of Leith walkway.
(Caroline Donne)
‘Horrid Henry’ by
Tony Ross,
Book Festival
24 8. 25 Aug
FESTIVAL KIDS
Poets. poo, free stuff and carrots
John Hegley This dry rhymester. better known for his twisting of words from the wry to the ridiculous for an adult crowd. turns his hand to children’s verse. My Dog is a Carrot promises a wealth of verbal treats, feats. beats and possibly even a carrot. See below. Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, 6—18 Aug noon, £7 (£5).
iil Dr Bunhead and the Kamikaze Cowpats Self destructive poo follows on from last year's show on snot. Dr Bunhead is kids’ heaven; a paradise of all things gross and gruesome where the maestro explores the way food goes in and out. Explosions and excretions ensured. George Square Theatre, 662 8740, 2—77 Aug, 70.30am, 75—25 Aug, 71.30am, £7 (£5).
;;.I No Breathing in Class with Michael Rosen The much-loved children's poet reads from his latest collection. It's the way you tell ‘em, and Rosen certainly knows how. Charlotte Square Gardens, 624 5050, 70 Aug, 4.30pm, £3.50.
Fringe Sunday Annual pick'n’mix Fringe event. Great for the slightly shorter- attention spanned among us with clowns. trapeze artists. musicians. magicians and just about anyone plying their trade. all for free. The Meadows, 77 Aug, 71am—5pm, free.
Lil Cinderella The life of a modern gal is tough — so much to do, so little time. Juggling work and play, burning the candle at both ends and all before the clock strikes midnight. No wonder Cinderella is having a stressful day. Shona Reppe Puppets put a contemporary spin on the grand old fairy tale. Netherbow Theatre, 556 9579, 5—77 Aug 4.30pm, £5 (£3).
I LOAF POEM
I bought a loaf the other day it came to life and ran away. And I said,
“Naughty bad bread. NAUGHTY.”