F E S T I VA L K I D S | Top Tips T O P T I P S | W E E K 1

The pick of the best kids’ shows in week one of the Fringe, in our handy chronological guide

10AM SPARKLE

Summerhall, 2–25 Aug (not 12, 19), 10.20am, £10 (£6). Previews 31 Jul & 1 Aug, £5. Sparkle, who loves to dress in tutus, tiaras and sparkly dresses, finds on his first day of school that not everyone wants to let him shine then Sparkle discovers the magnificence of being unique.

COMÈTE Assembly Checkpoint, 2–26 Aug (not 8, 13), 10.30am, £9–£11 (£8–£10). Previews 31 Jul & 1 Aug, £7. Covers and compositions blend into a true rock music awakening, a live show for curious kids and nostalgic parents sure to have you all singing and dancing. For ages five and up.

I BELIEVE IN UNICORNS BY MICHAEL MORPURGO Pleasance Courtyard, 3–26 Aug (not 14, 19), 10.30am, £10–£11 (£8–£10). Previews 31 Jul–2 Aug, £6.50. Young Tomas hates reading and school, but his world is turned upside down the day he meets the Unicorn Lady, in this intimate show set in a library.

ONE DUCK DOWN Pleasance Courtyard, 3–26 Aug (not 20), 10.30am, £8–£10 (£7–£9). Previews 31 Jul–2 Aug, £6. Seven

DOWN WITH THE POETRY KING With over 12 million YouTube views to his name, spoken word artist Mark Grist knows how to write and deliver poetry in a fun, meaningful and accessible way. Aimed at ages eight and over, this hour of poetry, rap, comedy and interactive games doesn’t skimp on silliness. Help him claim the throne in the Kingdom of Rhyme. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–18 Aug, 11.30am, £8 (£6.50). Previews 31 Jul–2 Aug, £6. Seas, 7000 rubber ducks, one big adventure. Inspired by a true tale that saw 7000 rubber ducks cast adrift in a mighty storm, this show is jam packed with music, clowning and puppetry.

CAPTAIN FLINN AND THE PIRATE DINOSAURS: THE MAGIC CUTLASS Pleasance Courtyard, 3–19 Aug (not 13), 10.45am, £12–£13 (£10.50–£12). Previews 31 Jul–2 Aug, £7.50. Join Flinn as he attempts to rescue his kidnapped friends who have been forced to hunt for the Magic Cutlass by his nemesis, the tyrannical Mr T-Rex.

11AM

ERTH’S DINOSAUR ZOO Underbelly Bristo Square, 3–26 Aug (not 12), 11am, £14.50–£20.50 (£13–£19.50). Previews 31 Jul–2 Aug, £12.50–£17.50. Get up close and personal with an array of prehistoric creatures, from baby dinos to the largest carnivores and herbivores that have walked the planet. Erth’s dinosaurs are unmistakably ‘alive’ in this fun, educational and performance.

MONSKI MOUSE’S BABY CABARET Assembly George Square Gardens, 5–15 Aug (not 9–11), 11am, £9. Join Monski Mouse and friends for a live musical cabaret of nursery classics, reworked songs, puppetry and fun for 0–5s and parents/carers.

MR MEN AND LITTLE MISS ON STAGE Underbelly George Square, 3–26 Aug (not 12), 11am, £11–£12 (£10–£11). Previews 1 & 2 Aug, £7. Featuring Mr Bump, Little Miss Splendid, Mr Tickle, Little Miss Inventor and many more, Happyland bursts to life in a series of colourful stories told through puppetry and music.

THE RUFF GUIDE TO SHAKESPEARE Assembly George Square Studios, 7–17 Aug, 11am, £10–£12 (£9–£11). Expect silly sketches, toe-tapping songs and dastardly duels as Take Thou That celebrate the work of the world’s greatest playwright.

SLIME Pleasance Pop-Up: Central Library, 3–24 Aug (not 4, 11, 18), 11.15am, £7–£8 (£6–£7). Preview 2 Aug, £6. Slug and Caterpillar are starving, and the only leaf left in the garden is just out of reach. Enter the undergrowth to squish, squelch and play your way through this show for ages 2–5 and their families.

DON’T MESS WITH THE DUMMIES Underbelly Bristo Square, 3–25 Aug (not 12, 19), 11.20am, £11.50– £12.50 (£10.50–£11.50). Previews

ALICE AND THE LITTLE PRINCE Toby Mitchell, one half of the duo behind Tall Stories theatre company (The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom) takes two of the world’s best-loved books and creates a mash-up. Lewis Carroll’s Alice and Saint-Exupéry’s Little Prince both visit rose gardens in their respective books so what might happen if they turned up in the same garden? Pleasance Courtyard, 3–18 Aug (not 9), 1.30pm, £8–£9 (£7–£8). Previews 31 Jul–2 Aug, £6. 92 THE LIST FESTIVAL 31 Jul–7 Aug 2019