With hundreds of children's shows to choose from at the 2017 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, BroadwayWorld reviewer Natalie O'Donoghue has narrowed down her top picks from the children's section of the programme.
Beasts & Beauties erupts in Edinburgh with an explosive blend of magic, monsters and mystery - a musical adventure into unpredictable fairy tales reimagined by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy. Expect puppets, physical theatre and excessive fiddle playing.
Ella is cursed with the "gift" of obedience. After her mother dies and father remarries, Ella begins a journey to break the curse - battling ogres, meeting giants, and trying to avoid her evil stepsisters. After becoming tangled in a possible romance with Prince Charmont, her curse makes things more complicated - does she accept his proposal and endanger the kingdom, or break her own heart and let him go? Adapted from Gail Carson Levine's novel, Ella Enchanted is an empowering retelling of the classic Cinderella story, where a young woman gains freedom through personal strength and love.
"Out of the gate and off for a walk, went Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy." Anyone with young children will recognise these immortal words, instantly, as the opening lines of the book Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy by Lynley Dodd. Featuring many of the characters from the books, like Hercules Morse, as big as a Horse, Schnitzel von Krumm, with the very low tum, and Scarface Claw, the toughest tomcat in town. With music, singing and several of your favourite Hairy Maclary stories, this interactive show is a must for the whole family.
With a magician for a Dad and a stargazer for a Mum, no wonder there's more to Mavis than meets the eye! Her cleaning trolley is full of surprises and Mavis is moving ever closer to making her dreams come true. With a little help from her cheeky cuckoo clock, mischievous mop bucket and Spike the hedgehog, will she find the courage to journey north and see nature's biggest light show with her own eyes?
Kidocracy is an interactive comedy show for children aged 6+, presented by Brehon, an ancient Irish know-it-all who's in charge of an island where children get to rule because the grown-ups have obviously made such a mess of the world...
The full Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2017 programme is available at www.edfringe.com
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