list.co.uk/festival Reviews | FESTIVAL KIDS
P H O T O © G R A H A M B U R K E
THE FANTASTICAL STORY FACTORY Improvised cleverness and musical fun ●●●●● THE COMEDY OF ERRORS Mistaken identity mayhem ●●●●●
It’s impossible not to marvel at the talent and skill that goes into an improvised musical. The ability to piece together a rhyming couplet in your head at a moment’s notice, lock into your colleague’s on-the- spot harmony, and synchronise jazz hands and leg kicks must be hard-won indeed. Finding new and exciting ways to deliver Shakespeare to children is a challenging but by no means impossible task. Bristol Old Vic Theatre School is making a speciality of it, after last year’s superb Romeo & Juliet, and now that farcical tale of mistaken identity, The Comedy of Errors.
So applause goes to the Showstoppers for doing Many of the elements we’ve come to expect
this with such aplomb. Gathering names, places, adjectives and more from the young audience, this talented company works them into a storyline with song, dance and cleverly improvised music. It’s a formula that works especially well at their
evening adult shows, where a touch of alcohol and abundance of shared cultural references mean the laughs come thick and fast. Here, most of the humour is generated by the children themselves (‘where should the action take place?’ asks the cast – ‘inside a giraffe’ comes the inspired reply). The end result can never come close to a musical
where time and attention has gone into shaping the lyrics and structure, so not every song is a hands-down winner. But for liveliness, fun and skilful performances, this factory’s well worth a visit. (Kelly Apter) ■ Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, until 17 Aug, 1.15pm, £10.
from these talented students are still firmly in place. Strong characterisation, highly physical movement born out of astute direction, and a knack for delivering Shakespearean language that can be understood by all. The tale itself, however, is far from simple: two
sets of identical twin brothers are separated at an early age, then turn up in the same city years later and render mass confusion among their friends and relatives. A lot of thought has gone into keeping the narrative clear and concise, but the decision to turn the story into a vaudevillian romp slightly muddies the waters.
On the plus side, it allows for some witty and enjoyable characterisation (the twins in particular), even if the slapstick starts to wear a bit thin after a while. (Kelly Apter) ■ Assembly George Square, 226 0000, until 16 Aug (not 11), 11am, £9–£10 (£7–£8).
MUSICAL MORNINGS WITH MIL’S TRILLS Gentle intro to the world of music ●●●●●
As adults going to live music shows, we have countless opportunities to hear strong vocals, consummate musicianship and original material.
Younger audiences, however, seem destined to be fed an endless diet of recorded music and age-old rhymes. But not when Amelia Robinson is in town. The New Yorker arrives in Edinburgh armed with her ukulele, a beautiful singing voice, an album of new songs and a long list of guest musicians – all ready to share and, in the best way possible, educate.
It’s a refreshing combination which feels a million miles away from ‘The Wheels on the Bus’ – yet still retains all the crucial child-friendly elements.
On this particular visit to Robinson’s musical world, the stunning guitar and percussion player Declan Zapala introduced his instrument, and accompanied Robinson as she read from a music- themed picture book.
Robinson herself is a source of boundless
enthusiasm and friendliness, able to communicate with and encourage her young audience, while still giving the grown-ups sitting next to them something to enjoy. (Kelly Apter) ■ Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 17 Aug (not 11), 10.30am & 11.30am, £7–£9 (£6.50–£7.50).
THE SAGAS OF NOGGIN THE NOG Live action adaptation of children's TV classic ●●●●●
Every year it seems the Fringe gives parents (and in this case maybe some grandparents as well) the opportunity to wallow in the nostalgia of their childhood TV viewing, under the guise of taking their children to a show – and this year is no exception. Created by children's TV legends Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin (Bagpuss, The Clangers) Noggin the Nog followed the adventures of Viking King Noggin and his adversary, Nogbad the Bad. For this live show, the four-man troupe have taken the original story of Noggin's search for a bride, and the story of the Ice Dragon, and created a wonderful piece of children's theatre.
With a combination of live action, puppetry and the occasional song, we are transported to the land of the Northmen. Beautifully pitched between magical and manic, the actors are constantly moving as they change helmets and cloaks to represent different characters. Despite this, the flow – or the audience’s attention – is never lost. The songs are accompanied by ukulele and wind organ, adding to the old-school TV vibe, while a number of witty asides keep the parents amused as well.
Despite its subject matter, one of the key charms of the
original series, was its gentleness – something that has not been lost here. This is a production that clearly reveres its source material, with scenes from the show projected on to a screen, and the puppets beautifully rendered. The cast clearly revel in their roles and this enthusiasm is infectious, drawing us into their world of talking birds, Viking boats and dragons.
If you have fond recollections of Noggin, then you’re in for a treat – for the rest of you, it's a wonderful introduction to what you missed. (Gordon Eldrett) ■ Assembly George Square, 623 3030, until 25 Aug (not 11, 18), 12.50pm, £9–£10 (£7–£8).
7–14 Aug 2014 THE LIST FESTIVAL 67