Let’s just get this clear; children’s shows aren’t just for kids.
Quite often, we find that the level of dedication, thought and ingenuity that goes into productions designed for younger audiences far excels that of their grown-up counterparts. From contemporary spins and ghastly tales to forgetful kitties to Polar Bears, Pianos, and Selkies, no genre crosses so many others quite like the Children’s shows of the Fringe.
So, let’s shatter the myth of age boundaries for some of the Fringe’s most well-developed and highly appreciated shows. After all – what’s better than a realm where anything is possible, where make-believe springs into life and nurtures the mindsets of those eager to tell stories and create their own narratives in a world where so often narratives are thrust upon us at an early age.
Time to let go of inhibitions, and give over to that younger self.
Links directly to the Fringe website to purchase tickets or look further at shows can be followed by clicking on the show’s respective image. Ticket prices are for standard admission and not children, so please check the Fringe website for concession prices.
An enchanting tale for young, old, and eternal – La Petite Gerda is one girl’s quest to save her best friend from the clutches of the Snow Queen.
This touching tale of initiation, separation, and return is told with characteristic mask-work, puppetry and object theatre – featuring original songs and composition. An incredible visual feast for the senses, this captivating journey is for the entire family.
Will you join Gerda on her adventure to save Kay? Grab your best red shoes, and be ready to travel the frozen kingdoms and escape the enchanted gardens this Edinburgh Festival Fringe in an all-new adaptation of a classic with Footsbarn Travelling Theatre.
12.15am (50 minutes) 3rd – 15th (not 14th) Aug 2023
Venue 17 – Assembly George Square Studios – Studio Three
George Square, EH8 9LH
Tickets £7.50 – £13.50 (preview available)
Bear with Me: A Polar Bear in Scotland
Arty is a daydreaming, inquisitive young fellow who was born in Scotland but longs to see the world. And when Arty inadvertently ends up on a voyage far from home, he discovers a lot more of the world than he bargains for.
Oh, Arty is a Polar Bear by the way. We may have forgotten that part.
A brand-new, musically scored, visual spoken word show, audiences are whisked on an adventure like never before across heather, hills, snow and wide open oceans.
Stuart Kenny, Gran Robertson and Lewis Gillie’s Bear with Me: A Polar Bear in Scotland was a sell-out during its last stint at the Storytelling Centre, and with only two Edinburgh Festival Fringe dates, if you were planning on seeing this (as you should) book your tickets now.
19:30 pm (60 minutes) August 9th and 23rd 2023
Venue 30 – Scottish Storytelling Centre, Netherbow Theatre
43-45 High Street, EH1 1SR
Tickets: £12.00 (Con. available).
Coming to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Judith Kerr’s Mog the Forgetful Cat is set to wow audiences of all ages at McEwan Hall.
A Wardrobe Ensemble works with the Old Vic, and our dear friends at the Royal & Derngate Northampton, Mog is a rather forgetful cat.
Not only does Mog forget that she has a cat flap, but she also forgets that she’s already eaten her supper, and even forgets that cats don’t tend to have eggs for their breakfast every day.
But this forgetfulness may just come in handy…
11:20am (60 minutes) 3rd-15th, 17th-20th, 24th-27th Aug 2023
Venue 302 – McEwan Hall, Bristo Square
Teviot Place, EH8 9AG
Tickets £9.00 – £13.50 (Preview and Con. available).
Teach Rex Live – A Dragon’s Tale
Bursting with scorching imagination, this interactive and nail-biting tail of bravery, curiosity, and familial love is crafted by teachers with the intention to inspire new generations of creative writers.
Throughout the performance, audiences will participate in the show, assisting in training the various beasts. In addition to the ticket, children will receive an educational booklet with an array of activities in relation to the performance – designed to continue the magic long after they depart the theatre.
With multiple awards across the team behind a variety of educational dinosaur shows, Teach Rex – A Dragon’s Tale has been a smash-hit with audiences already with rave reviews.
16.20pm & 18.40pm (50 minutes) 21st – 26th Aug 2023
Venue 209 – Greenside @ Nicolson Square – Emerald Theatre
25 Nicolson Square, EH8 9BX
Tickets £8.00 (Family ticket available)
A European premiere, this devastatingly powerful production is as funny and heartfelt as it is poetic and poignant.
Part of the always superb Taiwan Season, The Double Theatre’s family show, The Way Back, is a touching and engaging tale of a shattered body attempting to gather itself in a time of war. At the centre of it all, a boy displaced, trying to become whole once again, escaping the battlefield sustained by a dream of music.
With music, sound, light, text, movement and puppetry, this creative and playful response to the state of the world is one to watch for families, and keen audiences all over the Festival Fringe.
16.20pm (60 minutes) 2nd-6th, 8th-13th, 15th-20th, 22nd-27th
Venue 26 – Summerhall – Old Lab
1 Summerhall, EH9 1PL
Tickets: £10.00 – £15.00 (Preview & Con. available)
A grim grinning ghoulish show of spooky terrible tales, bothersome books, and grotesque goings-on awaits those brave enough to venture into the Teviot Turret…
The Haunted Bookshop has a tale for everyone. Everyone, this is, with the stomach to match the ghostly and ghastly and ferociously grizzly, as Miss Cordelia Hemlock tasks her assistant, Ransome Squelch with searching the world and snatching up despicable tales to bind within the pages of these books.
A pleasure? Or a cure? This weirdly wonderfully dark show is for all of those horrid little children, and the adults foolish enough to bring them along…
11.00am (60 minutes) 2nd-15th, 17th-20th Aug 2023
Venue 14 – Gilded Balloon Teviot
Teviot Row House, EH8 9AJ
Tickets £8.00 – £10.00
Selkie is learning about the stars.
Jo, meanwhile, needs to learn to swim.
Can they help each other? With live music from Quee MacArthur (Shooglenifty), children are very much encouraged to take part.
This original tale from What Moves You is told with dance, text and songs, and is chiefly aimed at children ages 3+.
15.40pm (50 minutes) 4th – 6th Aug 2023
Venue 22 – Assembly @ Dancebase
14-16 Grassmarket, EH1 2JU
Tickets £14.0
First Piano on the Moon (Revisited)
From Mozart, via blues, tango and rock’n’roll. William’s piano tricks are so impressive, his school choose him to play at Mozart’s birthday celebrations.
The problem is, he only does tricks. A chase through Salzburg. A moonlit haunted house: Enter THE Mozart, swapping genius wisdom for a glimpse of the future. Special adaptation featuring immersive hand-drawn animations and now, a special guest.
11.50am (60 minutes) 2nd-13th, 15th-20th, 22nd-27th Aug 2023
Venue 26 – Summerhall – TechCube 0
1 Summerhall, EH9 1PL
Tickets £10.00 – £15.00 (Preview & Con. available)
If you haven’t spotted your production – do not worry! We’re currently working our way through a huge backlog of requests, with many previews and Q & A’s lined up for the coming month. If you haven’t, please do get in touch through the contact page to feature in an upcoming ‘Have A Gander’