DANCE WORKSHOPS MAKE ALL THE RIGHT MOVES Body popping, tribal stomping and more
Festivals are about doing, not just seeing. And this year the Fringe has got a few class acts for kids to unleash their energy and get their bodies jumping. So don't despair if the summer holidays are becoming a little bit bor-ing, Dance Base and the Bongo Club are on hand to help stave oft any ensuing cabin fever.
Mika. the all-powerful New Zealand beauty, is offering lessons in the Maori war dance Haka. This ideal therapy for pent-up energies is available to all tribal warriors between the ages of 8 and 12.
For hip hopping wannabes, Kultyer Dance Theatre is here to show some moves and bust some grooves. The 80s revival is sweeping dance floors and school discos across the country and this is the chance for young poppers to brush up on their swan-dives and head spins. Ages 8—12.
Carnival comes to town Latin-style in Sambadroma. Taken from a Brazilian tradition where street hands compete to carnival judges. this show is performed around a loose narrative in which the audience is invited to join in as one of
34 THE LIST FESTIVAL GUIDE l-A8 Aug 2002
BAGPUSS Not just Emily loved him
‘Once upon a time, not so long ago. there was a little girl. Her name was Emily, and she had a shop. It was rather an unusual shop because it didn't sell anything. You see. everything in that shop window was a thing that somebody had once lost. Emily had found and brought home to Bagpuss. Emily‘s cat. Bagpuss: the most important. the most beautiful, the most magical . . . saggy old cloth cat in the whole wide-wond.
‘One day Emily found a thing, and she brought it back to the shop and put it down in front of Bagpuss who was in the shop window. fast asleep as usual. But then Emily said some magic words: ‘Bagpuss. dear Bagpuss. old fat tUrry cat-puss. wake up and look at this thing that I bring, wake up. be bright, be golden and light, Bagpuss, oh hear what I sing.’
‘And Bagpuss was wide awake. and when Bagpuss wakes up all his friends wake up too. The mice on the mouse-organ woke up and stretched, followed by Madeleine the rag doll, Gabriel the toad and, last of all, Professor Yaffle who was a very distinguished old woodpecker. He climbed down off his bookend and went to see what it was that Emily had brought.
“Later, Bagpuss gave a big yawn. and settled down to sleep. Of course. when Bagpuss goes to sleep, all his friends go to sleep too. The mice were ornaments on the mouse-organ, Gabriel and Madeleine were just dolls and Professor Yaffle was a carved wooden bookend in the shape of a woodpecker.
“Even Bagpuss himself, once he was asleep. was just an old, saggy cloth cat — baggy, and a bit loose at the seams. But Emily loved him.’ (Taken from Oliver Postgate's Bagpuss on which this production by Perret and Limb is based)
I Pleasance Dome. 556 6550. 3—25 Aug, van'ous times, £5 (£3).
Mike’s got the festival licked
the competing bands. For all ages and family groups, music and dance combo Mestre beat out the rhythms to get you in that carnival mood. (Ruth Hedges)
I Haka! Mika, Dance Base, 225 5525, 6—7 7 Aug, 7pm. £2.50; Real Hip Hop, Ku/tyer Dance Theatre, Dance Base. .25 5525, 73-48 Aug, 7pm, £2.50; Sambadroma, The Bongo Club, 556 5204, 3—7 7 Aug (not 4, 71 ), 2pm, £6 (£4).
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Fairy tales, fables, ghosts and gunk
l7 Dr Bunhead and the Kamikaze Cowpats Self- destructive poo follows on from last year's show on snot. Dr Bunhead is kids' heaven; a paradise of all things gross and gruesome where the maestro explores the way food goes in and out. Explosions and excretions ensured. George Square Theatre, 662 8740, 2—7 7 Aug, 70. 30am; 75—25 Aug, 77.30am, £7 (£5).
The Mole Who Knew it was None of his Business Continuing with the poo theme. Kipper TIE presents an adaptation of the excellent children's picture book where a jobby lands on mole‘s head and he wants to know whodunnit. C too, 0870 707 5705, 7—25 Aug 77.30am, £5.50 (£4.50).
Spookmaster: Scary Stories for Children This one's not for the faint hearted. BlueBoat's latest production is out to give you the heebiejeebies and is an exploration into the darker side of dreams. Hold tight as you're taken into an underground world where anything can happen. The Stand, 558 7272, 2—26 Aug. 3.30pm, 24—85 (22—23).
Cinderella The life of a modern gal is tough — so much to do. so little time. Juggling work and play, burning the candle at both ends and all before the clock strikes midnight. No wonder Cinderella is having a stressful day. Shona Reppe Puppets puts a contemporary spin on the old fairy tale. Netherbow Theatre, 556 9579, 5—7 7 Aug 4.30pm, £5 (£3).
g The Hare and the Tortoise Aesop's fable re- told by the brilliant Wee Stories with music. song and puppetry. The Hare and the Tortoise, Nefherbow Theatre, 43 High St, 556 9579, 5—77 Aug, 7.30pm; 79—24 Aug, 70.30am, £5 (£3.50).
I For Ta Fantastika’s Aspects of Alice, see Festival Theatre, page 52.