Family Entertainment at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival - Highlights for Kids

Recommended family shows and entertainments for Edinburgh 2009

The Edinburgh Fringe is a festival for the whole family. Among the more than 2,000 shows scheduled in 2009, there's a good selection of children's theatre, puppetry, kids comedy, dance workshops and more for children - from tots to teens - to enjoy with or without their parents in tow. So strap on those Simpson's backpacks, pack up the Barbie wheelie bags and head for Edinburgh for great family fun. Here are some of the highlights:

• Tixi& Moxo: A Colourful Adventure Two comic book characters, one good, one evil - but which? For Ages 3+. At The Spaces on The Mile@The Radisson, August 7-8, 10-15, 17-22, 24-29.
• Tales from the Shed The acclaimed Chickenshed Theatre Company creates an "addictively interactive" workshop for kids 0 to 7. At Zoo Southside, to August 8-9, 11, 13, 15-16, 18, 20, 22-23, 25, 27.
• Crabbit! - The Musical Brand new musical for kids based on the "Michelle" children's books by Julie Hegarty. At the Gilded Balloon Teviot, throughout the festial to August 31.
• Comedy Club for Kids Neopolitan Theatre presents a real comedy club "without the rude bits", for kids 6+. Now in its 5th year in London and 4th on the Edinburgh Fringe."Surprisingly funny," says the Guardian. At The Bongo Club to August 30.
• Dude! Where's My Teddy Bear? Hot from Glastonbury, the cult Rock 'n Roll Musical for 2-7 year olds. BYO Teddy Bear. At Pleasance Dome , August 5-7, 8-16, 18-31.
• Ice Cream Man and the Jelly Incident The Foodiverse is at war. Can Ice-Cream Man bring peas? At Pleasance Dome, August 5-31, no show August 17, .
• The Greatest Bubble Show on Earth Giant bubbles, square bubbles, peole in bubbles - all kinds of bubbl-ology. With Louis Perl, the Amazing Bubble Man. At C too, August 6-28, several shows a day
• Miss Googiepants and the Cat Miss Googiepants and her cat Shakespeare with funny poems, creepy stories and still songs. Free, but collection taken after the show. At Laughing Horse@The Counting House, August 6-19, no shows August 9 and 16.
• Garden Detectives What lurks at the bottom of the garden? Interactive exhibits and real live specimens at the National Museum of Scotland. Duck out of the festival mayhem for a bit of kiddy quiet time. It's free. National Museum of Scotland, July 31 to September 6, For ages 5-9.
• Baby Loves Disco Afternoon party for children with real DJs spinning classic disco, face painting, bubble machine, healthy snacks, chill out zones and lots of dancing. This was a smash at the Brighton Festival. At Edinburgh Corn Exchange, Sunday afternoons, August 16 and 23, Ages 0 to 7.
• Room on the Broom When a hungry dragon appears, who will save the poor witch? And will there ever be room on the broom for everyone? Songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged 3+. At Pleasance Courtyard, August 5-31.
• The Mildly Terrible Revenge of the Slightly Evil Brainwashing Puppets After years being made to kiss each other and do stupid dances, the puppets want revenge. Part of the Laughing Horse Free festival.At Laughing Horse @The Newsroom, August 8-30, for ages 5-9.
• If you are a fan of Lewis Carroll's Alice, she'll be hard to miss this year. The American High School Theatre Festival presents the McLean Highlanders from McLean, Virginia in Alice in Wonderland for all ages at the Church Hill Theatre, August 10,12,13,15. Dramawise, the youth theatre of Sky Blue Theatre presents Alice in Wonderland, for ages 5+, at C, August 8-15. And C Theatre, the in-house producing arm of the Edinburgh C venues presents their world premier of Alice:Through the Looking Glass, also at C, for ages 1+.
• Perennial children's favorite Rapunzel Makes two offbeat appearances too. In Rapunzel and the Tower of Doom, the ultimate bad hair day meets its dark roots. This Theatre of Widdershins production at The Scottish Storytelling Centre was a sell out in 2007 and 2008. Meanwhile, over at C Theatre, Rapunzelstiltskin sees two classic fairy story heroines collide over a prince (natch)
• The Princess' Blankets Poet, children's author and Britain's Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, together with musician John Sampson, present a new poetry, music and fairytale show that, what with Queens, ancient rock'n rollers, Mozart, Peggy Guggenheim and a shivering Princess, promises to be hilarious for everyone 8 and up. It's at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, August 15-24.
• Pandora's Box Theatre present Burglar Bill, a musical version of the popular Alan Ahlberg story. For kids 3 to 8, August 9-30 at the Pleasance Dome.
• Dilly Dilly by Tabula Rasa Dance Company, is described as serious, silly, poetic and slightly absurd dance theatre." Aimed at children 4+ and their grownups, the Herald called it "Rollickingly eccentric". See it at Dance Base: National Centre for Dance, August 5-10, 12-16.
• Visualise Reloaded Technoclowns with wordless wonders, live science with mischievous physical theatre. Last year's smash hit world premier returns for one week only at Venue 13, August 21-30.
• Choose between a dramatic or a musical version of the Kenneth Grahame classic, The Wind in the Willows. Cambridge University ADC brings their 2008 sellout production of the story to the Gilded Balloon Teviot, August 5-31. They promise "1930s lady weasels, an epic baguette duel and the greatest picnic ever staged." In the musical version, Moley, Ratty, Badger and Toad come to life with an all-child cast from Madrid's King's Performing Arts. August 10-11 and 13 at Stage by Stage Edinburgh Academy.
• Private Peaceful is adapted and directed by Simon Reade from of Michael Morpurgo's book for 10 to 14 year olds. It tells the story of a young WWI soldier on his final day. This serious and intense story, will suit older children with their families. Produced by Scamp Theatre, at Udderbelly's Pasture, August 6 to 31 at 2 p.m.

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