FESTIVAL KIDS | Reviews
CAPTAIN FLINN AND THE PIRATE DINOSAURS Swashbuckling adventure on a puppet-filled sea ●●●●●
On a ramshackle pirate ship in the centre of a silken blue sea, big kid Flinn – a boy who loves drawing, dinosaurs and jumping on trampolines – embarks on an adventure that tests his mettle to the limit. Along with vivacious sidekicks, loudmouth Pearl and well-spoken Tom, Flinn persuades his giant, blue-haired teacher Miss Pie to set a treasure hunt, during which he discovers a depressed pirate who has lost his ship and needs some help getting it back. This is company Les Petits’ first show as a children’s theatre
group, and there’s much in this production – an adaptation of Giles Andreae and Russell Ayto’s book – to show how carefully it has been thought through. Choosing a story set around the sea gives potential for strange and wonderful puppets – seagulls, a shimmering jellyfish – to pop up at any moment.
Practical considerations have been made, such as creating a double height stage with better visibility for wee ones; and the delicate balance between menacing and softie is perfectly judged in the key villain, a colossal Tyrannosaurus rex who wears a dressing gown and really really likes tomato ketchup. Nick Blakeley (Flinn) plays his childlike role with bags of verve and conviction, dashing about on his scooter, disposing of the baddie dinosaurs with nets. But tricks are missed, too. There’s very little interaction, which
could have drawn watching children further into the piece and made them feel more closely invested in the stakes. A glorious opportunity presents itself in the repetition of the three pirate attributes – eye patch, hook and ‘arrrr’ – but the kids are never invited to copy. Nevertheless, gentle songs and a swashbuckling plot make for a good colourful hour. (Lucy Ribchester) ■ Underbelly Bristo Square, 0844 545 8252, until 26 Aug (not 12, 22), 3pm (extra show 17 Aug 11am), £11–£12 (£10–£11).
THE I HATE CHILDREN CHILDREN’S SHOW Nasty but nice magic show ●●●●● THE MAHARAJAH AND THE KOHINOOR Home truths about the British empire ●●●●●
HANDMADE TALES Young company excels at storytelling enchantment ●●●●●
Don’t let the title fool you. Magician Paul Nathan may pull mean faces, grab kids by the collar, withhold sweets and generally ridicule his young audience. But if Nathan really hated children, this show would be a fraction as good as it is.
Magic is the main focus of this entertaining hour, and Nathan has a remarkable sleight of hand, but it’s the man himself who makes this show unique. His between-trick banter has us all – grown-ups very much included – laughing out loud, while his quest to ensure every child who wants to come on stage and help gets a chance to do so, indicates just how much Nathan cares about his audience.
The tricks are fairly old school – disappearing
scarves, card tricks, cut ribbons that miraculously re-bond, mind-reading – but all done with an impressive ease that leaves you baffled. Having guitarist John Anaya on stage, providing
riffs from ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ and the like, is further testament to Nathan’s desire to deviate from the norm. Prepare to have your child hated in the best possible way. (Kelly Apter) ■ Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 26 Aug, 11.50am, £8–£10 (£7–£9).
64 THE LIST FESTIVAL 8–15 Aug 2013
If you’re not already familiar with Britain’s behaviour towards India during the Victorian era, then prepare to come out of the theatre with any sense of national pride a little bruised. This is a story that deserves to be told; a piece of history lost to modern generations for whom the word ‘colony’ means little more than a family of ants. Tap Tap Theatre sprung into existence last year, created by University of Bristol students, and has quickly garnered an enviable repuation. This year they have three shows at the Fringe: Captain Morgan and the Sands of Time, Men and Handmade Tales, an enchanting feat of storytelling that displays the transformative power of words.
Just six years old when the prestigious, yet The show cycles through five stories, running the
weighty, title of Maharaja is bestowed upon him, Duleep Singh is too young to recognise the injustice done to him, and the rest of the Punjab, by the British crown and government. The Kohinoor of the show’s title – one of the world’s most precious diamonds – is taken from him and placed in Queen Victoria’s crown jewels, never to be returned. Performed by two actors, who ably portray a wide cast of characters, the show is a valuable history lesson for both adults and children. But without some kind of pre-show school project to set the scene, there’s just too much here for younger children to take in. (Kelly Apter) ■ Assembly George Square, 623 3030, until 26 Aug (not 6, 13), 10am, £8–£9 (£5–£6).
gammut from courtly love to the 21st century family. Each is heralded by the introduction of a minimalist prop and, within moments, the energetic and vastly talented actors conjure a fully-formed world. The action is rife with physicality and, along with live musical accompaniment, is wholly absorbing.
Underpinning the spellbinding peformances is a wondrous script by young writers Tash Dummelow and Miriam Battye, who create whole new fairytales and then deftly tie them all together. Though billed as a children’s show, the sophistication of the storytelling renders it suitable for all ages, with a cornucopia of references (perhaps just slightly too many for younger children) designed to entertain adults. (Suzanne Black) ■ Zoo Southside, 662 6892, until 26 Aug (not 14), 11.50am, £8 (£6).