Edinburgh Fringe 2024
Captain Zak’s Space Pirate Problems
Stories Alive
Genre: Children's Theatre, Sci-fi
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Festival: Edinburgh Fringe
Low Down
Eden Ballantyne’s Captain Zak character’s patient and warm dynamic make this is a fun experience for all, especially the very young. No one is put on the spot and are at will to join in – and the young audience does very readily! This is a very in the moment show which moves along gently with a solid structure. Captain Zak is in charge and is Is on top of everything – this is simply a wonderful show!
Review
Captain Zak greets us with his vibrant energy into his interactive story about his spaceship. Wearing a pirate hat and a sci-fi shiny silver coat this natural storyteller stands tall in front of the audience of mainly under sixes and has them spellbound and willingly joining in with low key activities. Along the way, children and their parents are entertained and learn about not only his broken space ship but also simple sci-fi vocabulary.
Eden Ballatyne created his company Stories Alive because of his interest in historical characters and bringing them to life for young audiences. After earning his degree in Drama in the Community he has developed 12 actor-in-the-role character workshops based on different history curriculum themes. Captain Zak is a zany character and his experience comes to the fore as he deftly and patiently guides even the youngest audience members to help him.
“Who helps tidy up at home?” Captain Zak asks and various hands are raised. He invites them to come and help fix the spaceship and brings out items that children happily rearrange. The Captain guides them all with warm enthusiasm and kindness. The interesting audience area – set up with a semi circle of children and parents in the middle with others on the sides, allows shyer families to sit at the side and watch while many are ready to help with the simple playful activities.
It seems the radio of the spaceship has twisted wires and it doesn’t play properly so he asked for more help and an approximately four year-old offers advice on how to fix the wires – and – then it all works well!
Automated voiceovers tell us that the fuel tank is empty, which is a great moment to introduce some space vocabulary and Captain Zak talks briefly about fuel cells, the orange ones – Captain Zack tells us what they do – and some are recycled.
Captain Zak has another question for the audience “Can anyone here count up to 10?” There is lots of participation here from the almost full audience of parents and small children, and the latter are eager to count up to ten!
There is a wonderful relaxed flow to Zack’s character storytelling and how he draws in the audience and elicits gentle interaction. Ballantyne is ready to help and guide the little ones to count and how to hold their fuel cells green, pink, yellow ones…and more. He builds energy and rapport with the all age audience and the little ones are engaged and happy to go and volunteer and participate in a low-key and supportive way.
As a group counting game, which is effective: the fuel is in the tank, so what happens next? We are all designated his engineers, he tells us, and we are ready to help.
Captain Zack finds the exact right tone to talk to the young that allows them to call out as they choose to do so spontaneously – there is a lot of interactivity throughout so it holds the attention of everyone even the youngest. This original story moves along at the right pace and is at its foundation entertaining and instructive – therefore, parents are able to watch as their children are engaged.
Now we have a colour mixing question what two colours make purple? Of course, he finds his answer from the lively group.
Ballantyne’s patient and warm dynamic make this is a fun experience for all, especially the very young. No one is put on the spot and are at will to join in – and the young audience does very readily! This is a very in the moment show which moves along gently with a solid structure. Captain Zak is in charge and is Is on top of everything – this is simply a wonderful show!
