FringeReview Scotland 2026

Disco Duckling

Performing Arts Studio Scotland (PASS)

Genre: Children's Theatre, Dance and Movement Theatre, Family

Venue: Duns Volunteer Hall

Festival: FringeReview Scotland

Low Down

Review

It’s a quiet Bank Holiday Monday afternoon in Duns, but the DunsPlayFest has roared into its third day as it prepares to host a group from the Performing Arts Studio Scotland (PASS), who’ve rolled in to entertain those at the bottom end of the age demographic with their snappily titled Disco Duckling.

However, looking around the capacious Duns Volunteer Hall, I reckon they’re in for a stiff examination of their collective abilities to inspire and entertain, given that I can only see single figures in terms of kids, with a few curious adults (including your faithful reviewer), scattered around the auditorium to give at least the appearance of an audience.

But right from the get-go, the splendidly maternal, chirpy Mama Duck had the small people in the front row hooked, breaking the proverbial fourth wall seconds after she quacked onstage to that iconic disco number “9 to 5”, from the legendary Dolly Parton.

Turns out that Mama Duck has lost her three duck eggs.  And they’re about to hatch, so she needs the help of the audience to find them.  “Shout if you see them”, she intones.  Cue entrance from suitably costumed duck egg and an enormous amount of yelling and pointing from the front row.

PASS has faithfully followed the tried and trusted technique behind every children’s show – grab their attention early by getting them involved.  Then don’t let go!  Give them something to shout about, a song to join in with, something to laugh at and stick a simple moral message in there that they can absorb by osmosis.  Works every time. So, let’s start with the moral message, which is the kernel of this captivating and joyful forty minute piece of pure fun.

One of the ducklings has been born with an irrepressible urge to disco, to anything and everything, anytime, anywhere.  No surprises that this quickly winds up her mother, two siblings, school chums, Headmaster and even the school cook, who are at pains to point out, loudly and often, that “ducks don’t disco!”

But the more strident the calls for Disco Duckling to cease dancing, the more determined she becomes to just be herself, being proud of what she is rather than risk her joie de vivre being squashed by conformity.

And, with the enthusiastic support of the Fairy Duckmother who spirits up a disco DJ, Disco Duckling wins through, leading her siblings and all her other pond based animal friends in a rousing disco finale, proving that ducks do disco after all.

This is a very cleverly crafted and superbly delivered piece of children’s theatre, holding the young audience’s attention throughout, as evidenced by the loud and enthusiastic singing, eager response to any and all of the chances offered for interaction with those on stage and for some uninhibited disco dancing with the cast in the finale.

The eleven strong cast are on point from start to finish, perfect diction, relentless enthusiasm and exquisite characterisation, aided and abetted by costuming of the highest order and a few simple props.  Choreography is slick and delivered with panache and the mix of interaction, physical theatre, dance and slapstick has as much in it for the adults as for the children.  Oh, and there’s a fart joke too.  No children’s show should be without something involving this bodily function.

If you can keep a small, young audience like this totally engaged and with you, doing the same with a big audience should be a quack in the park.  And talking with some of the cast afterwards, they expressed the hope that they might take the show to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2027.  They should do.  Forty minutes of feel good fun that’s right in the sweet spot for the 2-7 age range.  And those of an older disposition.  If PASS can turn hope into reality next year, I highly recommend you seek it out.  Whatever your age.

Published May 5, 2026 by Tim Wilcock