Children's Events Reviews
A TINY! CIRCUS! - Stone and Water
Now in its 17th year at the Fringe, this long-established outdoor crafts workshop at the Pavilion Gardens continues to delight young families, offering an oasis of calm at a busy time.
Gordon MacLellan (aka storyteller and environmental artist Creeping Toad) and his fellow Stone and Water artist Sarah Males lead the sessions with sensitivity and humour taking their cue from the children themselves. The theme this year was the circus with participants invited to use the card, felt tips, glue and crayons provided to create miniature animal performers to hang on a model trapeze.
For me, that meant drawing a mouse that was juggling bright orange balls (“No product placement here”, Gordon commented wryly). However I had failed to work out how I could cut out the balls whilst keeping them in the air. Nothing fazes Stone and Water and they helped me work out how to attach them to each other and the mouse with, ahem, barely visible string.
Meanwhile a small child to my right was having her own problems. She had made a very cute butterfly but where, she wondered, was the audience? Gordon suggested she make some circus goers. “I’ve made a pile of audience”, she confirmed some while later. “Have they all fallen over?” asked Gordon, quick as a flash. This is how stories tend to happen at these sessions - one thing leads to another in a very funny way. Unicorns playing football and a frog that can tame crocodiles are just some of the acts that have turned up at this fabulous Tiny! circus.
Peaceful as it all seemed, over the course of a day Gordon says there are always a good many participants - they had seen about 60 by the time I showed up around 2pm. With the sun shining and a few giant puppets wandering about following Two Left Hands’ nearby show, there was a lovely atmosphere. I certainly enjoyed the chance to be creative and, through my intrepid mouse surrogate - which survived several accidents - to become a circus performer.
Stephanie Billen
EDY HURST'S DREAM PARK! - Edy Hurst
For those of you who know Edy Hurst from his previous shows, then this is exactly what you would expect a children’s show, designed by him to be like! For those of you who haven’t seen Edy before then hold onto your hats you’re in for a rollercoaster ride of fun, frolics and mayhem!
Edy zip wires in as the man in charge of a new theme park and the audience walk around the park experiencing all it has to offer. What is a theme park without a mascot with a catch phrase? We experience some of the major rides, a sad merry-go-round horse, encounter a grumpy neighbour and the fun police. What more could a show offer? This is Edy, so it obviously it has lots more to offer, and then some!
It is fast, it is frantic, the audience revelled in the chaos! Children are ride controllers; they help with the spinning teacup (a sight to behold!) We are all taken on a rollercoaster designed by the young people in the audience via Edy’s hi-tec shenanigans. They help a horse through a difficult time.
The show does need a bit of trimming in parts to tighten it up. That being said, it is a joyous fun filled romp of a show that made both the children and the adults laugh out loud. Go and see it!
Anything can be achieved if you have the imagination, an appreciation of heritage and an eye on animal welfare.
Jayne Fanthorpe Walker
THE DRAGON'S PEARL - REC Youth Theatre
The REC Youth Theatre is an important part of Buxton’s community, and, now under the umbrella of Babbling Vagabonds it continues to go from strength to strength. The Dragon’s Pearl is presented by their Junior Company (ages 10/11–14) and is an inclusive, inventive show with much to delight all ages.
In this charming fable, a young farmer, who’s crops are failing, goes on a quest to visit the God of the West, who they dream will turn their fortunes around. On the way, they meet new friends and enrich their life in ways they couldn’t have guessed.
The show utilizes all of this large, enthusiastic company, with the role of the farmer being handed between a number of the performers over the course of the journey. The rest of the group play the various characters they meet along the way, as well as providing the setting and special effects. The scene when the giant dragon of the title emerges from clouds of umbrellas was especially clever and well realized, but I was also delighted by the very funny turns of the young performers playing goats and the acolytes of the God of the West, with just the addition of a woolly hat or a sheet wrapped round their heads.
The cast were possibly a little nervous at the start, but soon became energized. Youth theatre like the REC provides a wonderful training for young people, in building confidence and creativity and in working together as a group, and The Dragon’s Pearl is a delightful continuation of that tradition.
Robbie Carnegie
CHILDREN'S HAPPY HOUR WITH 'MARIE BERET' - Jan Brennan - Toffee-Nosed Theatre
Happy Hour with ‘Marie Beret’ was a chance for some of the Fringe’s younger audience to get stuck into some fun and silliness as well as help out our host with a bit of a mystery.
The children were fully entertained and there was of course lots of audience participation. There was singing, dancing, colouring and of course in a Super Chef show, some food preparation. At one stage the children were asked to describe a duck so they could draw one when our host asked how many legs a duck has, only for a small boy to chime in with ‘they haven’t got any!’ Clearly, he hadn’t read the script!
The bit of a mystery was where Marie Beret’s keys had gotten to, and there was no way she could get home without them. But with some great detective works from the audience and a friendly policeman they were returned before the end of the show,
The whole show was a treat for kids, parents and grandparents and all went home happy. What more could they want?
Ian Parker Heath
JAZZ GIG FOR KIDS - Sole Rebel
At 3pm on the afternoon of 11th July, with the temperature sitting around 26C and the sun shining on a seemingly endless procession of floats, marching bands and Well Dressing Queens, it seemed that almost every young person from a 15 mile radius was either cheering from a float, or cheering at one - along the hot pavements or from shade of The Slopes. Just across the road from which, in the main hall of the Community Centre behind St Anne’s Church, the lovely people from Sole Rebel were hosting their Jazz Gig for Kids. If it was even slightly frustrating to be hosting a show for kids on the very same day, at the very same time, and within earshot of, Buxton Carnival, it certainly didn’t show as the show went on. The jazz duo of double bass and guitar struck up a tune, then all that mattered was what happened in the room. What Carnival?
Sole Rebel collaborates with live jazz musicians to introduce audiences to the experience of tap dancing as music - reviving its legacy and connecting generations through rhythm. Their passion is evident from their performances - infectiously joyous from the beginning to the end. Through a wide range of jazz styles, the solo and ensemble performances were the perfect complement to the music, just as the music also shifted to become the playful accompaniment to the tap. Duelling with rhythms.
The resulting playful atmosphere was soon picked up by the children present, who had been offered some brightly-coloured chiffon squares to either wave in time, or throw in the air then enjoy as they floated down through the rhythms of a hot afternoon in Buxton (a description you can't often use here!).
Sole Rebel is a Community Interest company based in Liverpool, but also in Macclesfield, Oxford and London. They perform at many different events, including festivals, so if you see them advertised over the summer you should definitely take the opportunity to enjoy the experience. Or go along to one of their sessions.
Curtis Bollington
HUMDINGER WORDS FOR WHIPPERSNAPPERS & GUTTERSNIPES - Ben Dali
The short review is…go and see this; it’s brilliant, funny and engaging.
The slightly longer version goes like this:
Mr Dali is your substitute teacher for the day. He’s planned a fun-filled day and, in an hour, takes you through a full curriculum including psychology, art and geography. There’s a lunch break, a quiz and a show and tell section if any children want to bring a poem they’ve written. Mr Dali loves words – and he knows a lot of them. Including the longest word – which he’ll teach you to say.
The children in the audience, ranging from 4 to 11 were clearly loving it, joining in, laughing, learning. There’s a few fart and willie jokes which always brings a giggle. There are word games and tricks for everyone to enjoy and be amazed at. He’s an awesome teacher; the class made balloon dogs following his expert instruction, and he builds confidence with his audience.
Ben Dali is an energetic, charismatic performer. He tangles words into wonderful, clever and funny poems, rhymes and songs. The energy never drops and he builds an easy familiarity with the audience making sure you never feel left out.
And don’t feel you have to leave this fabulous show for the the kids – it’s ok for grown-ups to come along and join the fun too. (There’s a version for adults too – Humdinger words for Lollygaggers and Fuddy-Duddies if you want an evening show)
Maria Carnegie
VALHALLA AWAITS: VIKING STORIES FOR KIDS - Sweet Productions/Stories Alive
Our storyteller (Eden Ballantyne) stands in the entrance gleefully shepherding latecomers into the venue on a very hot afternoon. Dressed as a Norseman, in a thick woollen shawl he is as heroic as any of the Gods he talks about!
This is a busy show full of audience interaction which never feels forced or rushed. Children are invited to volunteer to take on a role within the stories but there is no expectation to, if they want to sit and watch then all is good.
The volunteers are then onstage embodying in miniature form the great gods and giants from the myths. They speak the words and perform the feats of their character. It is a brave human who tackles a room full of children and asks for volunteers but Eden has the skill, patience and kindness to skilfully negotiate random ad libs and wide-eyed muteness from the tiny Gods and monsters.
The stories are told with warmth and passion with our storyteller using his vocal and physical skills to embody characters and his puppet eagle is truly a masterpiece of design.
Odin, Loki, Thor, Idun and Skadi are but a few of the mythological characters whose tales are told. I would have loved to hear more about Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder, Thor’s chariot pulling goats, the names alone are perfection!
Parents, bring your children to this interactive and educational look into the Norse myths (Marvel isn’t always accurate!)
Jayne Fanthorpe Walker
