KIDS | Previews
PUPPETRY LITTLE LIGHT North Edinburgh Arts, Wed 4 Apr; Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, Sat 7 Apr; Village Storytelling Centre, Glasgow, Wed 11 Apr
Having given us productions such as Big Shop and Big Man Walking, Edinburgh-based Vision Mechanics has now created Little Light to entertain children aged five and over.
This co-production with the Haya Cultural Centre in Jordan is set in a traditional Bedouin tent, and combines puppetry, music and dance to tell a magical story that brings together a tiny light, a lonely boy and a faithful dog.
Every day, a father goes to work while his son waits for him to come
home. The child’s isolated world only begins to look more promising through the magical intervention of a fallen star. The initial script for Little Light was developed in collaboration with the team at Haya, who were seeking to establish a puppetry centre as part of their children’s theatre arts programme. ‘The inspiration for both the setting and story came from the development
process,’ explains Vision Mechanics’ artistic director, Symon Macintyre. ‘In Jordan in July, the strong sunlight and harsh shadows brought to mind the traditional Bedouin tent and the welcome shade it provides. In our tent we weave these shadows into the tale of the mischievous Dog Star, a real dog, a boy and his father. ‘The tent’s walls become the shadow screens for the story and its roof is the night sky full of stars. Sitting on cushions, the audience will be wrapped in the colours and music of Jordan while the story of Little Light unfolds.’ (Brian Donaldson)
FESTIVAL EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FESTIVAL Various venues, Edinburgh, until Sun 15 Apr
‘We want our younger audience to know that they’re the problem solvers of tomorrow,’ says Amanda Tyndall, creative director of Edinburgh International Science Festival, ‘and that we need their brains and creativity if we want to change things and make a difference.’ It’s a mission which is well reflected in the Science Festival’s programme, with a lengthy list of talks, events, workshops and shows aimed at children and teenagers taking place until the middle of April. ‘I’m particularly looking forward to Valentina’s Galaxy, our specially
commissioned theatre show from Frozen Charlotte for 2–5 year olds, which is inspired by the adventures of real women in space,’ says Tyndall. ‘The Superhero Science Show will explore how real objects from the National Museum of Scotland have given us all super powers, and Dr Bunhead’s Easter Egg of Doom promises more science stunts as he blasts bunnies (not real ones) into space in his search for the science of Easter.’
The City Art Centre will open up as a venue-wide science playground once again, the Mini Maker Faire returns to Summerhall, and Heart Dissection for Kids is at Surgeon’s Hall (where they really will get to dissect a heart). Fringe hit show Me and My Bee is at the Royal Botanic Garden, and a snack-along screening of Ratatouille is at North Edinburgh Arts. According to Tyndall, this is all partly serious business to reverse the shortage of suitably qualified people in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic) subjects. But, as she insists, ‘we also want people to be amazed, engaged, inspired and, most importantly, have fun.’ (David Pollock)
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IMMERSIVE THEATRE EDDIE AND THE SLUMBER SISTERS Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, Fri 27 & Sat 28, Mon 30 Apr then touring
After being cut and then reinstated during Creative Scotland’s recent round of funding, Catherine Wheels theatre company knows a thing or two about dreams. But while theirs may have come true, for the young girl in the company’s new show, Eddie and the Slumber Sisters, dreams are a way of processing grief after the loss of her beloved gran. ‘In her everyday life, Eddie is sort of coping,’ explains
director Gill Robertson. ‘Her mum and dad are a bit distant, because they’re busy working – and of course her mum has just lost her own mum – so Eddie just puts her head down and carries on. But her dreams are difficult, chaotic and traumatic; all the pain and grief she’s feeling comes out in them.’ For this piece of immersive theatre, which takes children and
families right to the heart of the action, Catherine Wheels has once again teamed up with the National Theatre of Scotland, who previously partnered with them on hit shows Something Wicked This Way Comes and Martha. Entering ‘Slumber HQ’, the audience will sit in and around
Eddie’s bedroom / an aircraft control room, where the Slumber Sisters (a 1940s-style singing trio that specialises in keeping children’s dreams healthy and safe) do their business. ‘The Slumber Sisters are mythical beings who have been around since the beginning of time,’ explains Robertson. ‘And because it’s a completely made-up world, they can sing what they like. So they sing versions of Beyoncé songs as well as doing old Andrews Sisters numbers like “Accentuate the Positive”. We’ve got some really fantastic singers in the show; that was a big part of the casting.’ (Kelly Apter)
76 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2018