There’s plenty of famly-friendly theatre at the Fringe each year, though not as much as there used to be. With offerings across most of the genres in the programme for all ages, here are a few of our recommendations. If you are looking for shows particularly suited for teens, you may well find that these are in the main categories. We’ll be offering recommendations for teens in a separate article.
If your youngest ones like to join in, and enjoy a classic fable to boot then get along to Stockbridge Church for Wriggle Around the World. (0-4s). “fun, interactive and educational sell-out show for babies and toddlers that is also enjoyable by the whole family! Professional violinist and cellist perform familiar classical melodies and tell a musical version of The Gingerbread Man”
There is on offer in the two free fringes as part of Edfringe. Those who enjoy juggling (5 and up) should see The Spanish Gentleman Juggler, billed as a highly skilled gentleman juggler comedy show for all ages. Meet Mr Vita who “performs finely crafted juggling routines, mixing classical and experimental juggling. Bringing to life everyday objects such as fishing poles, drinking glasses and kebab sticks alongside invented props and gymnastic balls, in routines that guarantee to surprise and entertain all age groups. With the air of a punkish matador, this eccentric and playful character looks like he could have walked straight out of a cartoon and onto the stage with funny walks, sounds and his elastic like facial expressions.”
For something interactive in the Free Fringe, *for 5-12s) take the family to 1 Cent Comedy presents: 1001 Space Adventures: Breadlove and Poophead – Interactive Children Show. “Join Breadlove and Poophead in a cosmic journey where your child isn’t just an audience member – they’re the hero of their own interstellar adventure! Will they save the galaxy? It’s up to our young space explorers! Mixing puppets, sound effects, painting and many more in this interactive sci-fi adventure filled with fun, learning and imagination.”
Your kids may love, or may have never seen, ventriloquism. A bother/sister of puppetry it is a field in its own right. Ventriloquist Queen: A True African Queen is a good place to start and there’s more in this show as well. “Ventriloquist Queen: a true African Queen. Her Majesty Queen Angelique-Monet of Eti-Oni, Nigeria, dubbed ‘Ventriloquist Queen’ (BBC News) and her puppet Milk The Cow host a historic vaudeville interactive theatre piece incorporating ventriloquism, music, storytelling, and comedy, celebrating Her Majesty’s African and American heritage. The backdrop is Oloni Palace at Eti-Oni, the oldest cocoa plantation in Nigeria, during the Royal Cocoa Festival where dignitaries will attend. The former beauty queen and HBCU Living Legend helped shape modern day ventriloquism, and plans to show her humble beginnings and current role as a modern African Queen.” This is particulalry suitable for the younger ones, recommended for 0-7s, suggesting baby friendly too.
For a classic tale, you’ll go and see The Wizard of Oz from acclaimed Flying Hight Young Company. Good for 3plus. you are invited to ” follow Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion along the Yellow Brick Road to self-discovery where the Wizard of Oz is not all he seems. With original songs and creative storytelling”.
There’s some beautiful story-based puppetry at the heart of Wood Owl and the Box of Wonders for 3-11s. “‘The love we show can make us grow.’ A lonely little owl wants nothing more than to fly into the night and join his friends. But how can he, when he is made from wood? The arrival of another lonely soul changes his life as he strives to help. Join Hoglets Theatre on a journey of singing owls, fantasy worlds and pirates. Featuring beautiful handmade puppets, original songs and music and an age-old message that the love we show to others comes back to us in time.”
More puppetry can be found as part of Assembly’s Tawain Season. Taiwan Season: Little Drops of Rain is full of good things for threes and over. “A family show like no other from a company that specialises in creating original, innovative theatrical stories. Plucky young Hope lives in a drought-ridden time and place. Then a chance encounter with a resilient drop of water sends her on an adventurous and life-changing quest. Full of inviting, imagination-tickling charm, director Hsin-Huei Hung’s production is a feat of non-verbal, environmentally-conscious storytelling ingeniously led by Foley sound.”
And you could complete a puppetry trio of shows by visiting the family-friendly and rather lovely Scottish Storytelling Centre in ordert to see The Tree and Her Tale (for 3-7s). “The story of a friendship between a Boy and a magical, storytelling Tree. Each day the Tree tells her tales to the Boy, stories of adventure, friendship, love and life. Everything is perfect, until the cruel Winds arrive and rid the Tree of all her leaves and their stories, leaving her broken and bare. It is now down to the boy to protect his friend at all costs. Combining puppetry, music and storytelling, this wholesome show celebrates the importance of friendship and supporting one another.”
Ok, OK! here’s a fourth, just in case you need more! How a Jellyfish Saved the World at Pleasance Courtyard, for 5-11s, offers a “a tentacle-tapping puppetry musical, for children and adults, friends and anemones, for our world and the generation inheriting its issues.”
Family friendly circus for the whole family can be found at the Underbelly Circus hub. Our choice here is highly acclaimed Trash Test Dummies Circus, “Everyone put your rubbish out, tonight’s bin night and the Trash Test Dummies are on duty! This award-winning, side-splitting, slapstick comedy, circus routine retakes the household wheelie bin to new heights and delivers a dump truck full of hilarity!”. For a second circus choice for fives and up, also as Underbelly, see Tweedy’s Massive Circus.
Featuring live music, puppetry, storytelling, key-word signing and captions, How to Catch a Book Witch, for fours and older, is “open-hearted show aimed at children ages 4+ exploring the importance of libraries and sharing stories”. And there’s a bit of a quest at the heart of this show: “Kira loves reading. Visiting the library is her favourite. But why are words disappearing from the books and where have all these book monsters come from?! Could there be a Book Witch hiding somewhere? Graham Grey plans to knock down the library to make way for a car park! Join Kira and Barry the Bookworm on this heartwarming adventure to save the day.”
Talking of quests, for younger children (6 and under) who love to solve a mystery, it has to be Ice Dragon for Under 6s needs to be on your list. “Four seasonal dragons come together to solve a mystery with the help of a badger, a rabbit and a fox who knows where they will end up. But one thing is for sure: there will be music, song and dancing as they go on their way. This is a magical show with full audience participation, who help throughout the production with an interactive bag of dressing-up, puppets, sensory lights and much more! Just fab!”
Robot fans will want to lose themselves in Inside The Robot: Kids in Control! billed as the world’s only theatrical escape room. “You are the crew of a time-travelling robot and everything has gone wrong. Help! Stunning visual effects and immersive interactive technology mean kids aged 5 to 95 will be enthralled in this thrilling, educational, and hilarious spectacular. Back with fresh new challenges and a new story for 2024 – fans of puzzles, games and silly dances can’t miss this unique Fringe experience back for its third year”. For fives and older.
We’ll end this article with our shorter bucket list recommendations which speak for themelves…
For a fun show celebrating Nature, see Grow
For stinky fun, it is of course Children Are Stinky
For big bulleies, be wowed at The Bubble Show (check the fringe programme for other bubble shows).
For a unique, interactive hero story, rooted in Cantonese opera, then don’t miss Cantonese Opera x Children’s Interactive Theatre: Dic Dic Chang Chang Playground
For some engaging educational fun theatre that FringeReview saw and highly rated at Durham Fringe,, meet this pirate: Captain Zak’s Space Pirate Problems
For a “hilarious and outrageously horrible family show”, book Plague, Poo ‘n’ Punishment
For magic, soap bubbles, balloons and shadow play for the whole family from an international company, go see Bubble J: The Fantastic Unbelievable Show
For Dr Seuss, see The Cat in the Hat
For unicycle acrobatics, gasp at Cartoooon!!
For something classical, modern interpretation of an ancient Greek comedy piece, see The Birds
For a free clown, circus show, get along to Bubba-licious
For a Ceilidh, (traditional Scottish dance) for the whole family, it has to be CeilidhKids at the Fringe. And to keep those feet moving, there is also FlamenKids
For a classic fairytale, see Cinderella and, for a panto version, see A Cinderella Panto
For young readers, you might take them to a show promising an “enchanting blend of award-winning music and storytelling designed to spark young imaginations and enhance literacy”. And that show is Reading Through Singing Time
For something family friendly and a bit raucous, try the live gameshow Rik Carranza Presents: Marvel vs DC
Youg scientists wlll be fascinated at Science Magic: Crazy Gadgets
If your family has children of different ages, a good bet will be Monkeys Everywhere
For a stirring, beautiful to captivate the kids, go to Fernando and His Llama Friend
You’ll get your children in hoots of laughter with our comedy pick Mr Sleepybum
Children’s magic is to be found at Assembly in the form of The Greatest Magic Show
If you’d like your family to see an original story, a big production, then take them to Original Children’s Drama Ancient Ship
For a drama for slightly older children (Eights and up), take them to see The Thirteen
For a very young, a fringe favourite is always Monski Mouse’s Baby Cabaret as well as Monski Mouse’s Baby Disco Dance Hall
Do check out the rest of the programme. There are 125 childreb’s shows listed there and there’s plenty of family friendly work on offers in all sections of the Fringe programme. If cost is a challenge, you’ll find plenty to see in the Free Fringe and PBHs Free Fringe. Have a thrilling Fringe.
