The Edinburgh Fringe is a festival for the whole family. Among the more than 2,000 shows scheduled this year, 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 Spongebob backpacks, pack up the Fairy Princess wheelie bags and head for Edinburgh for great family fun. Here are some of the highlights:
Updated February 4 2012
The new Edinburgh Festival program will be out in May, 2012. Watch for updated highlights coming soon. Meanwhile, this rundown of family shows from 2011 can give you some idea of what to expect.
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Alice in Wonderland makes three appearances at the Edinburgh Festival in 2011
- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is a new musical adaptation by TaleGate Theatre for children two and up
- Alice's Wonderland from Gresham's School promises to be part dream, part nightmare for the over fives, featuring one of the Edinburgh Festival's youngest casts.
- With Alicia en La Loteria, the International Collegiate Theatre Festival gives the whole story a spicy Latin American twist based on a popular, Central American children's game.
- 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 is always a sell-out. In 2011 it's at the Electric Circus, Sunday mornings and afternoons, for ages 0-7.
- Charming! - Prince Charming plays fast and loose with the fairy tale ladies, promising to marry Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty. What a mess. Four to eight year olds will love it.
- Comedy Club 4 Kids - Neopolitan Theatre presents a real comedy club "without the rude bits", for kids 6+. Popular year after year and "Surprisingly funny," says the Guardian. At The Bongo Club to August 28.
- Drama Workshops for 5-14s - Spotlites Theatre Productions runs hour long workshops, different every day. From "Star Wars: Jedi Knight Academy" to "High School Musical", "Harry Potter" and more. All staff are CRB checked (that's the UK Home Office Department that checks the background of people who want to work with children). So you can safely drop off and collect the little monsters to gain an hour of child free space during the festival. Spotlites @ The Merchants' Hall.
- Flamenco for Kids Children three and older get to experience the fabulous music, to dance, stomp and clap and to dress up in flamenco costumes
- Lapin Wants Breakfast Budding linguists aged three to five can pick up a bit of French in cross cultural puppet show about a hungry bunny - in English with carefully chosen and repeated French words.
- The Man Who Planted Trees - Award-winning puppetry adaptation of Jean Giono's environmental tale of war and regeneration, laughter, heartbreak and wit. Features what the Guardian called "the best dog puppet ever".
- Movin' Melvin Brown: Just Singing and Dancing...You Can Do It! - It's all in the long title on this US import - singing, tap dancing, mime, robotics, moonwalking, comedy and everyone four years and over joins in.
- Monkey Music - For the youngest members of the family, these popular music workshops offers a variety of musical fun, action songs, games and percussion instruments, for children six months to two years, and ages 2-5. In the Pleasance Courtyard.
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Peter Pan flies in for three different shows:
- Livewire Theatre's Peter Pan - a new adaptation from a company that regularly brings popular classics to the Fringe.
- Peter Pan - Learn to Fly - features magic, swordfighting, and a dancing crocodile in an aerial adaptation of the classic J.M.Barrie story.
- Peter Pan on Dinosaur Island - pits Peter against T-Rex. Kids get to come onstage to pelt Captain Hook with "dinosaur droppings."
- Tales from the Shed - London's wonderful Chickenshed company combines interactive improv, puppets and all kinds of fun for kids up to 7-years-old.
- The Wolves of Willoughby Chase - Joan Aiken's story of wicked villains, orphans and daring escapes, with "Steampunk", music and puppetry.
