FESTIVAL KIDS | Previews
MERMALADE Manhattan Children’s Theatre follow up last year’s Fringe hit with another female heroine
Little girls grow up surrounded by stories of damsels in distress, inspiring them to wait for a man to solve all their problems. So it’s always refreshing to come across a tale that proffers another way of getting things done – as Land of the Dragons did at last year’s festival.
Back for a second year, director Laura Stevens is hopeful Mermalade will be an equally big hit with Fringe audiences. ‘Mermalade, much like the princess in Last of the Dragons, embodies all the qualities of a strong female role model,’ she says. ‘She is brave, intelligent, perceptive, courageous and doesn’t give up – ever. But she is also human, has faults, makes mistakes, questions authority and is afraid of what will happen next.’
Stevens ran Manhattan Children’s Theatre in New York for almost
a decade, before relocating to Edinburgh, where she continues to make work to engage family audiences. What, for her, is the secret of a good children’s show? ‘A story with a clear beginning, middle and end that never seeks
to over explain or tell the audience what to think or feel,’ says Stevens. ‘Because even more than adults, young minds have an innate capacity to connect with a story.’ Based on the book by Clare Cockburn-Martin, Mermalade tells the tale of a mermaid who finds a cryptic note, three oysters who befriend her, and the baritone-voiced God of Thunder who thinks he knows it all.
‘Mermalade drives the story forward,’ explains Stevens. ‘But
she can’t be a heroine if there’s no one else around to witness her bravery – so enter the chatty oysters who span three generations, offering comic relief and their perspective on life.’ (Kelly Apter) ■ Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 6–29 Aug (not 17 & 18, 22–24), 11.15am, £7.50–£10 (£6.50–£9). Preview 5 Aug, £6.
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CHIFFONADE Delicate dance show for younger audiences
FUTURE PERFECT Young boy heads back in time to undo a wrong NICK COPE’S FAMILY SONGBOOK Singer/songwriter show for parents and kids
Why make dance for children and families? ‘Dance is a non-verbal way to communicate and share emotions,’ replies Michèle Dhallu, artistic director of French company Carré Blanc. ‘As babies, we’re mostly in this non-verbal state. Adults are too, except we forget it most of the time. Body language is so clear, so sincere, that it suits children. And they’re so open-minded, much more than adults, and difficult – because patience means nothing for them.’
Performed by dancer Suzel Barbaroux,
Dhallu’s Chiffonnade uses different fabrics to conjure environment, character and atmosphere. But what motivated the creation of this dreamy 30-minute solo? ‘Becoming a mother and seeing my daughter growing,’ explains Dhallu. ‘Like every child, she had this desire to discover, a tremendous curiosity and need to understand. Chiffonnade is a metaphor of growing.’
Wherever the show is presented, what Dhallu enjoys most is, she says, ‘to look at the audience and see a father with a baby on his knees, both of them smiling, eyes wide open and sharing the same pleasure.’ (Donald Hutera) ■ Institut français d’Ecosse, 225 5366, 6–28 Aug (not 10, 15, 22), 10.30am & 11.30am, £8 (£6). Preview 5 Aug, £6.
70 THE LIST FESTIVAL 4–11 Aug 2016
We all make mistakes, but what if you could travel back in time and undo them – would it make a difference? That’s what one young boy tries to discover in Future Perfect, the new show from Small Stories – the development wing of much-loved children’s theatre company Tall Stories. Future Perfect’s Fringe run will be performed by
Tall Stories co-director Toby Mitchell and his young son, Dominic. ‘Having a 10-year-old with us definitely grounds the show,’ says director Olivia Jacobs, ‘and the natural rapport between father and son shines through everything they do. There have already been more than a few deviations from the script during rehearsals, and I imagine there’ll be a few more at each show, but that’s what will make it feel fresh and live.’ The show is billed as an ‘interactive time travelling
adventure’ but Jacobs assures us the interaction doesn’t involve time in the spotlight. ‘No one has to get up and embarrass themselves,’ she says, ‘But every audience member will have their own decisions to make during the show. There’s no right or wrong path, it’s just about making decisions that might help you make your future perfect.’ (Kelly Apter) ■ Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 4–14 Aug (not 10), 2pm, £6–£7.
‘It’s not just for children,’ says Nick Cope of Family Songbook, explaining that his show is intended to live up to its name by appealing to a wide range of different ages. ‘It’s for grown-ups, too.’ The show’s repertoire of songs, all written and
performed by Cope himself, is aimed at parents and children alike. Subjects cover various elements of family life, from changing nappies to the impact of losing a relative. ‘It’s not all about poo,’ promises Cope, perhaps aware he has become widely known for his catchy song ‘The Baby’s Done a Poo’. ‘Nana’s Noodles’, for example, encapsulates the love a family feels for their lost grandmother.
Cope has obviously struck a chord with his audiences, since his fans have begun wearing glasses borrowed from their parents in an attempt to look like him. Many kids also make cardboard ukuleles in tribute to Cope’s instrument of choice. In his live shows, Cope tries to steer clear of the children’s entertainer stereotype. ‘I hate that idea of the big shoes and a flower in your hat,’ he says. Instead, a mildly ironic take on the happenings of family life are more his thing. (Helen Fowler) ■ Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 6–21 Aug (not 17), 11am, £7.50. Previews 3–5 Aug, £5.