While the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is famed for late night fun and adult-rated standup, the truth of the matter is that with well over 3,000 shows annually it offers all things to all people: including families!
There’s a dedicated family section in the Fringe brochure, and the mornings at the festival in particular are bustling with shows specifically aimed at children, from theatre to stand-up. Whether you’re a local looking for summer holiday activities, a visitor with kids, or you just really dig bubble-based shows, there’s something for everyone here.
Here’s our top picks.
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What is it? Louis Pearl’s bubblicious show is an Edinburgh mainstay that sells out every year for a reason. That reason being: he does cool stuff with bubbles! Big bubbles, little bubbles, artistic bubbles, bubbles demonstrating science, dumb bubbles, clever bubble – aaaaaaall the bubbles. It’s not even the only bubble-based Edinburgh Fringe kids’ show but it’s definitely ‘the big one’. Suitable for all ages.
Where is it? Underbelly, George Square.
What is it? This is weird: Frankie Monroe – the amoral pub landlord sociopath alter ego to comic Joe Kent-Walters – will do a single performance of his Show for Babies at this year’s Fringe. What will it involve? Absolutely no idea whatsoever: the description states: ‘it’s not a Kids show. It’s for Babies. If any kids come they will have to pretend they are a baby or maybe hide so Frankie cannot see them’. That is all we know about it but it looks to be a proper ‘only at the Fringe’ one-off.
Where is it? Monkey Barrel Comedy.
What is it? We tend to think of New Yorkers as pathologically grouchy souls. But primary schooler-orientated NYC wizard Mario the Maker Magician is defined by his infectious elan. Whether he’s goofing around with the petty logic of a seven-year old or accessibly expounding on his love for Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, it’s the giddy atmosphere that the Sesame Street and David Blaine-endorsed Mario fosters in his show that makes it work as much as the actual magic.
Where is it? Underbelly, Bristo Square.
What is it? It’s a good Fringe for comedians doing kids’ shows this year, and the most prominent of them is surely loveable veteran Mark Watson, whose reasoning for turning his hand to child entertainment is that it’s one of the few things he’s not done before. Despite the slightly grumpy title, Watson is a generally upbeat, joyous presence and you can see he’d go down a treat with the five plus crowd.
Where is it? Pleasance Courtyard.
What is it? Rising star ventriloquist comic Max Fulham makes his Fringe kids’ debut with this fun looking caper about a disatrously managed company run by Max and his pet monkey. Expect lots of kiddie friendly voices, slapstick and audience participation.
Where is it? Gilded Ballooon Teviot.
What is it? This looks fun: kids’ theatre stalwart Danyah Miller leads an interactive, ‘board game style theatre show’ in which the young audience (aged seven to 11) solve clues and crack a case together. It’s a reworking of London hit The Mystery of Little Angel Theatre.
Where is it? Pleasance Courtyard.
What is it? Puppet-based tage adaptation of legendary illustrator Blake’s picturebook about an eccentric inventor who goes for a bike ride one day and can’t stop herself from customising it wildly. It debuted at the Imagine Children’s Festival in London earlier this years and now settles in at the Fringe for a longer run. For ages three to eight.
Where is it? Assembly George Square.
What is it? This boisterous kids' show is the little sibling to improv hit musical Showstopper! The Improvised Musical (also running at the Fringe). The performers use suggestions from the audience to power a completely improvised, song-filled hour of very silly musical fun indeed. The fact they’ll take any suggestion no matter how daft is mana to little ones’ imaginations.
Where is it? Pleasance Courtyard.
What is it? We’re promised ‘no plan… no storyline… just an hour of fun’ in this inaugural kids’ show from acclaimed comic Jones, which will offer a mix of the madcap physical humour orientated highlights of his acclaimed career to date, given a U-rated twist (by that logic clean-minded adults should have fun with it too).
Where is it? Pleasance Courtyard.
What is it? Beloved clown Tweedy – of Tweedy’s Massive Circus – makes his Fringe debut in solo form. Expect prop-based absurdity and general lovable larks in this family friendly hour of fun and funniness.
Where is it? Underbelly George Square.
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