Festival Kids list.co.uk/festival
CHARLIE AND LOLA’S BEST BESTEST PLAY Lauren Child’s hugely popular brother and sister duo burst off the page, out of the TV screen and onto the stage! It had to happen sometime, and Watershed Productions seem to have done an interesting job with the whole 2D/3D challenge. Featuring some of Charlie’s trickiest problems, including Lola’s messy bedroom and her frustrating inability to fall asleep, the show mixes puppetry, live action and music to make absolutely the extremely bestest show on the Fringe, as Lola might say. ■ Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 5–18 Aug (not 11), 10am & 11.30am, £10–£11. Preview 4 Aug, 11.30am, £9.
music@list.co.uk Hitlist FESTIVAL KIDS *
✽✽ Arabian Nights Since 2004 the Theatre of Widdershins have been charming the flip flops off Fringe audiences with their beautifully crafted sets and daft puppetry. No reason why this year should be any different. See preview, page 50. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 556 9579, 9–30 Aug, 1pm, £7.50 (£5). Preview 7 Aug, 1pm, £5. ✽✽ Twinkle Twonkle The team who brought you The Gruffalo return with another engaging story. This time they’ve turned their telescope to space and the Big Bang. See preview, page 51. Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, 7–30 Aug (not 18 & 25), 2pm, £8.50–£9.50 (£7.50–£8.50). Previews 4–6 Aug, 2pm, £6.50. ✽✽ Penguin Brighton-based Long Nosed Puppets proved their Fringe mettle with the delightful Shoe Baby. Now they’re back with another puppet tale. See preview, page 50. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 7–29 Aug (not 16 & 25), 11.20am, £7–£8 (£6–£7). Previews 4–6 Aug, 11.20am, £5. ✽✽ Stick Man Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s picture book meets the inordinately talented Scamp Theatre. See preview, page 50. Udderbelly’s Pasture, 0844 545 8252, 7–30 Aug (not 16), 12.30pm, £10–£11 (£8–£9). Previews 5 & 6 Aug, 12.30pm, £6. ✽✽ The Mole Who Knew it Was None of His Business An old Fringe favourite that never loses its appeal. Unless of course animals talking and singing about poo offends you – in which case stay away. C, 0845 260 1234, 4–30 Aug, 10am, £6.50–£8.50 (£5.50–£7.50). ✽✽ Charlie and Lola’s Best Bestest Play The cutest kids in CBeebies town head for the bright lights of the Fringe. See Big Pic, left. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 5–18 Aug (not 11), 10am & 11.30am, £10–£11. Preview 4 Aug, 11.30am, £9. For Festival Index see page 128.
5–12 Aug 2010 THE LIST 49
5QUESTIONS
Glasgow comedy queen Janey Godley has pushed all her blue material aside to team up with daughter Ashley Storrie for their kids’ show, Tall Storrie & Wee Godley. She tells us why we should go along
5 reasons why people should come and see Tall Storrie & Wee Godley It’s fun for all ages. At no other place or time in the Fringe will you see Janey Godley perform both dance and gymnastics. It’s the only mother and daughter show at the Fringe. Kids can bring along their musical instruments and talent and join in as the house band, giving them the opportunity to perform at the Fringe without the massive advertising fees or venue costs! There will be no puppets – which is a good thing as we all know how frightening puppets can be.
4 of your favourite things about being in the Fringe
The atmosphere is electric and for one month every year you feel like you’re part of something huge. You can never be bored at the Fringe, there’s no excuse for it. The fact that for one month a year it’s socially acceptable to just have a chat to strangers on the street (as long as you’re handing out flyers). It’s the one time of the year you can make up stories about Edinburgh Castle to foreigners – we’ve told people it’s a bowling alley/roller rink. 3 words that sum up the Janey/Ashley style of children’s entertainment
Hijinkery, imagination, extravaganza.
2 other Fringe shows you don’t want to miss this year Tony Tanner’s play Charlatan at Assembly Hall and Tara Flynn Big Noise at Gilded Balloon.
1 thing you wish you’d known as a child
That not all cats are cuddly – and I have the scars to prove it. ■ Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, 7–30 Aug, 12.45pm, £8.50–£9.50 (£7.50–£8.50). Previews until 6 Aug, 12.45pm, £5.