Festival Kids list.co.uk/festival
ROOM ON THE BROOM If it’s innovative storytelling, great characterisation and witty dialogue you’re after, then Tall Stories theatre company should tick all your requisite boxes. The same could easily be said of children’s writer, Julia Donaldson – so it’s great to see both factions come together for this fun new show. Based on Donaldson’s hugely popular picture book of the same name, Room on the Broom is the tale of a generous witch who comes a cropper when her vehicle overloads. Expect catchy tunes, captivating performances and a good time for all. (Kelly Apter) ■ Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 8–31 Aug (not 12, 19 & 20), 2.30pm, £8.50–£9.80 (£7.50–£8.50). Previews until 7 Aug, £6.50.
5QUESTIONS Charged with making science funny, Doc Austin tells us why we should check out his Fringe show, Doctor Austin & Doug Safety’s Time-Tastical Time Tale
5 reasons people should see your show We’re the only show in town that offers the potential to travel in time; we create indoor lightning; we’re performing the first public demonstration of diamond being burned; my co-star Professor Sparks the All-Knowing Dog cries for hours if we don’t sell every ticket; it costs performers anywhere between £4,000 and £22,000 to take part in the Fringe – that’s why we’re so desperate to give you a flyer. 4 best things about performing at the Fringe Eating at Mosque kitchen – that place rocks; it gives me a chance to get away from the science lab; flyering is a good excuse to chat up pretty girls; we get to share the awesome-ness of science with the public and learn things we didn’t know about it from them. 3 coolest things about science Liquid nitrogen is pretty cool – at around -200°C it’ll freeze your hand off; not many people know that Nikola Tesla was the first inventor to successfully use remote control technology, he’s the great grandfather of Nintendo Wii; if any little dude or dudette out there got into science now, when they grow up they could build any invention they could imagine 2 favourite Dr Whos Ah-ha that’s a trick question; Dr Who is one person who changes his appearance every so often . . apart from at the end of the last series when there were two of them. (Kelly Apter) 1 word to sum up your show Timetastical ■ Underbelly’s Hullabaloo, 08445 458 252, 8–31 Aug, 2.50pm, £8–£9 (£6–£7). Preview 7 Aug, £5. 38 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 6–13 Aug 2009
Hitlist FESTIVAL KIDS *
✽✽ Rapunzel and the Tower of Doom The ever-wonderful Theatre of Widdershins returns to the Fringe for another helping of puppetry fun. An exquisite set and witty storytelling should make this one of the best kids shows in town. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 556 9579, 7-30 Aug (not 10, 17 & 24), 11am, £7.50 (£5). ✽✽ Andy and Mike’s . . . Big Box of Bananas Andy Day of CBeebies, and his partner in comedy, Mikey take you on a seriously bonkers quest to find out what’s inside ‘the box’. Prepare for much in the way of silliness. See preview, page 40. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 9–23 Aug, 12.50pm, £8 (£6). Previews 7 & 8 Aug, 12.50pm, £6. ✽✽ Room on the Broom Julia Donaldson’s picture book comes alive. See Big Pic, left. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 8–31 Aug (not 12, 19 & 20), 2.30pm, £8.50–£9.80 (£7.50–£8.50). Previews until 7 Aug, £6.50. ✽✽ Giraffes Can’t Dance Blunderbus Theatre Company captivates adults and children alike with its lively storytelling. See preview, page 39. The Space @ Royal College of Surgeons, 0845 508 8515, 8–29 Aug (not 16), 10.35am (9 & 23, 2.35pm), £7 (£6). Preview 7 Aug, 10.35am, £5. ✽✽ The Wind in the Willows Kenneth Grahame’s novel gets a fresh, humorous re-working. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 7–31 Aug (not 18), 12.30pm, £7–£9 (£5–£6). Previews until 6 Aug, 12.30pm, £5. ✽✽ Patrick Monahan’s Stories and Fables for Kids that Like to Sit at Tables! Likeable comedian, Patrick Monahan dresses up as a 467-year-old Middle Eastern storyteller. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 9–30 Aug (not 17), 1.30pm, £7–£8 (£6–£7). Previews 7 & 8 Aug, 1.30pm, £5. For venue addresses see index page 80.