High Jinks on the high

taxman doing handstands. (Allan Radcliffe)

I Pleasance COurtyard. 556 6550. until 29 Aug (not 70. 77) 12.20pm. {TS/£77 (£4.50/E550).

PAUL LYALLS: ARE WE NEARLY THERE YET? Everything you wanted to know about growing up. . .

sons with Tall Stories

Kids' entertainer Paul Lyalls manages to cram a lot into his shows. His latest Fringe outing. familiarly entitled Are We Nearly There Yet? uses stOrytelling. stand-up. poetry and a slideshow to explore the theme of growing up and changing. ‘Everyone gets given their own poetry book and is asked to write a poem about something in the world they'd like to change.‘ explains Lyalls. 'The responses are amazing. One kid said. "I wish my parents would stop making animal noises in the bedroomf”

Lyalls' show is billed being suitable for kids

THE OWL 8: THE PUSSYCAT

Tunes, moons and runcible spoons

The Fringe is full of unchartered waters you win some, you lose some, that’s part of the fun. But when you’re coughing up for a family of four, you want a show that’s guaranteed to please. Which is why it’s always a relief to see Tall Stories back in Edinburgh. Renowned for its strong characterisation and innovative staging, the company also has a real talent for adaptation. Previous Fringe hit, The Gruffalo (back for another run this year) stayed true to Julia Donaldson’s original storybook, while fleshing the tale out into something new and original. And this year, Tall Stories has given Edward Lear’s nonsense poem a makeover. Co-director, Toby Mitchell, explains why: ‘We wanted to take a familiar story, just as we did with The Gruffalo, and make it our own - because the fun you have then is bringing a different twist to it. Firstly, we thought why would an owl and a cat be at sea together? One’s a predator of the other. So we decided it would be by accident, and they’ve got to learn to live together on this small boat’

But it takes more than that to turn a three stanza poem into a 50 minute

show. Cue lots of songs, plenty of silliness, and two minor characters who have been elevated to the role of narrator: Turkey and Pig. Perfect for the show’s target audience of 3-7-year-olds. ‘lt’s a good, fun show,’ concurs Mitchell. ‘And just like The Gruffalo, it ‘zrings you out with a smile on your

face.’ (Kelly Apter)

I C. 0870 707 5705. unti/ 30 Aug (not 75), 3pm, £7.50 (£‘5.:3()—(5.50).

HERBIE TREEHEAD’S DINOSAUR CIRCUS

Jurassic larks

Ex-Covent Garden street performer turned theatre impresario. Herbie Treehead has produced the biggest show to hit the Fringe in 20 years. But it's been a long time coming. Disillusioned with the traditional circus fare which used to be his bread and butter. the industrious Geordie first began scribbling down ideas 13 years ago. And now. with the help of a sculptor. a phySicist and seven aerialists. clowns. magicians and stunt artists, he's finally ready to go.

Featuring five walking, growling dinosaurs ranging in size from Gift to 15ft high and 17ft to 25ft long. the show's stars are the first of their kind in the world. But quite what makes them work is shrouded in secrecy. ‘There's no

point in killing the magic of how it works.‘ says Treehead. ‘We're trying to keep it secret. not because we're being precious. but because we believe in that magic. If somebody sees a dinosaur walk. they might think they want to see what it's made of. and look inside. but we know it's better not to let them. and let them keep that magic alive.‘ (Kelly Apter)

I Pod Deco. 08707 557 705. until 29 Aug (not 77) 2.30pm. E54770 (ES—£8). JOHN RYAN: NEVER GROWING UP Standing up for the kids

In recent times. the phenomenon of stand- up for kids has travelled from whimsical notion in the brain of a mad genius to essential component of the children's Fringe. Following the success of

last year's Kids Are Best. in which he

proved emphatically that

yeting people are better than their elders. comedian John Ryan has established himself as one of the shining stars among children's comics. What else would yOu expect from a man who can boast the Teletubbies as former colleagues? Ryan's new show. Never Growmg Up. sets out to confirm the abiding suspiCion that we're all just big kids at heart. and features the same winning hodgepodge of jokes. singing and storytelling. Anyone over the age of l t with an aversion to public humiliation is advised to amid the Pleasance Courtyard around lunchtime. as Ryan has a predilection for making ()theer/ISG upstanding citizens perform humiliating acts. Examples? How about a former conVict peiforming ballet and a

:5

3

aged 7—777. Like many childrens' performers on the Fringe. he was determined to cater for the big kids as well as wee ones. 'Some stuff can leave the grown- ups out because it‘s pitched too low. Having gone to the theatre a lot with my own daughter. I know what it's like being bored senseless sitting through endless shows with glove puppets. so I deliberately wanted something that worked on both levels.‘

(Allan Radcliffe)

I Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, until 30 Aug (not 76, (7) 7pm, CB/E? (£4.50/ 5.50).

BACH FOR KIDS Periwigs, pianos and pnson

He may be deemed the most influential composer of all time. but for the average eight-year-old. Bach isn't exactly the coolest guy in town. But it would seem that there's more to old Johann Sebastian than meets the eye. Despite becoming an orphan at

nine. fathering 20 children and writing countless concertos. masses and cantata. Bach also found time to fight duels. throw wigs and go to jail. And these are details which musician Geoffrey Thomas is happy to impart. interspersed with some of the German composer's finest moments. performed live on an 18th century fortepiano.

Thomas has performed to hundreds of children over the years. and is convinced he's found a winning formula for sparking an interest in classical ltlUSlC. ‘Kids love good stories. particularly funny and dramatic ones.‘ he says. “And the musical pieces are short. so the attention span required isn't overly long. Then. at the end. I invite the kids to come up and much the fortepiano and ask questions.‘ (Kelly Apter) I 7/4rm (a) Greens/dc. 5572724, 65—74 Aug (not 8) 70am. £5 (£3.50).

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5) <1? Aug 1200-1 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 47