EdFringe 2024: Theatre for children & young people
Edinburgh-made theatre for children & young people at #EdFringe 2024
There is a strong showing of theatre for children this year, with 18 shows in the listing, aimed at audiences ranging from babes in arms to early teens.
There are a lot more Children’s shows in the programme, we know, performed by many talented individuals. However, this listing is primarily for theatre-based shows – with a smattering of other tempting treats.
A scene from a previous tour of Shark in the Park. Pic: Nonsenseroom Productions
There are 184 shows Made in Edinburgh at #EdFringe this year. In order to make things clearer, we have divided the listing up into seven parts. On this page you can find an alphabetical listing of all the theatre for children and young people made by Edinburgh-based companies.
Here are the links to the other six listings pages:
Theatre by Edinburgh’s Amateur companies.
Theatre by Edinburgh’s Grassroots companies.
Theatre by Edinburgh’s Youth and Student companies.
Theatre by Edinburgh’s Professional & Funded companies.
Edinburgh-made Musical Theatre & Opera.
Edinburgh-made Music, Cabaret & Dance.
We are also proud to work with EPAD to produce and publish their annual listing of shows “created, performed or produced by Edinburgh’s theatre professionals” which is here.
This page has been updated to include links to reviews. Click on a show’s star rating to go to its review.
Theatre for children and young people listings
Abracadabra Family Friendly Magic Show
Alex Kouvatas / PBH’s Free Fringe
PBH’s Free Fringe @ CC Blooms (Venue 171)
3 – 13 Aug: 12:30 (1 hr)
Join Alex the Magician for an exciting children’s magic show, back for its fourth year at the Edinburgh Fringe. Laughter, participation, fun, and of course, magic await! Witness the ‘fantastic humour, charming presence and unique magic’ (WorldMagicReview.com). Further details.
CeilidhKids at the Fringe
CeilidhKids / Free Festival
Laughing Horse @ The Counting House (Venue 170)
01 – 25 Aug (not 14, 21): 10:00 (45 mins)
Family workshop suitable for children aged 3-7 with parents or carers, but all welcome to participate in whatever way they feel capable. We involve everyone: skip, clap and march together to traditional Scottish music. Enjoy simple (often simplified) dances that you might find at a ceilidh or Scottish country dance. Hugely popular with local families, now it’s your turn. Bring Mum or Dad along to partner you under the chandeliers! Children should be accompanied by an adult who is willing to join in; one adult can dance with two children. Further details.
Children’s Underground Ghost Show
City of Edinburgh Tours
City of Edinburgh Tours @ Old Police Box (Venue 157)
01 – 26 Aug: 11:30, 12:30 (45 mins)
Who haunts our world-famous vaults? Join Mingin’ Annie from Edinburgh’s past and explore what it’s like being trapped beneath the city streets for 400 years. Ghostly fun for everyone in the underground. Further details.
Dragon Shows for Babies
Dragon Song Productions
LifeCare Centre (Venue 524)
1 – 20 Aug (not 4, 11, 18): 11:30 (40 mins)
Æ Review: ★★★★★ Spellbinding
The tales of the dragons are special for many reasons. Each dragon tells a tale with the help of the young audience, who each have an interactive age-appropriate props bag to work with throughout the show. Further details.
FlamenKids
TuFlamenco
Edinburgh New Town Church (Venue 111)
11, 18 Aug: 14:30 (55 mins)
If your child loves music or dance, this is a great opportunity to introduce them to something they probably don’t see or do every day, and a fun and visual way to learn about Spanish culture and flamenco art: rhythms, dance movements, clapping, guitar, singing, castanets, percussion and language expressions. Further details.
Girl Called Grace
Emma Milton
The Speakeasy at The Royal Scots Club (Venue 241)
6 – 10 Aug: 11:00 (40 mins)
Grace is kicking back for the summer holidays when her step mother orders her to go to her aunty Baba Yaga. Little does Grace know that Baba Yaga is a witch with iron teeth who lives in a peculiar hut and eats children. Further details.
Heads, Shoulders, Strings and Bows
Recitals for Wrigglers
Stockbridge Church (Venue 317)
13 – 22 Aug (not 18): 12:00 (35 mins)
Fun, interactive and educational sell-out show for babies and toddlers that is also enjoyable for the whole family! Professional violinist and cellist perform familiar classical melodies and new music by Paul Englishby about the body. Further details.
Ice Dragon for Under 6s
Dragon Song Productions
LifeCare Centre (Venue 524)
5 – 11 Aug: 10:00, 13:30, 14:30, 15:00, 16:00 (40 mins)
Æ Review: ★★★★★ Perfectly pitched
The third in the Dragon Song Productions’ trilogy. Four seasonal dragons come together to solve a mystery with the help of a badger, a rabbit and a fox who knows where they will end up. But one thing is for sure: there will be music, song and dancing as they go on their way. Further details.
The Last Forecast
Bridie Gane and Catherine Wheels
Assembly @ Dance Base (Venue 22)
3 – 18 Aug (not 5, 12): 13:15 (50 mins)
Æ Review: ★★★★★ Outlook: good
Somewhere, on an island, Gael, a gecko-like creature lives alone, in harmony with the surroundings. Everything matches, everything is perfect. Unfortunately, Gael is not alone for long. A stranger arrives, laden with earthly belongings and starts setting up home, disturbing this island sanctuary. However, the forecast is for rising water levels and soon there won’t be space for either of them. Part of the Made In Scotland Showcase. Further details.
Magic Morning!
Tim Licata Magic / PBH’s Free Fringe
PBH’s Free Fringe @ Little Plaza (Venue 159)
3 – 25 Aug (not 19): 11:10 (50 mins)
Bring the kids for magical mischief with one of Edinburgh’s favourite magicians! Tim Licata astounds audiences throughout Scotland with his brand of delightful deception. Great humour and classic trickery, this is a show the whole family can enjoy. Further details.
Moon Dragon for Under 6s
Dragon Song Productions
LifeCare Centre (Venue 524)
1 – 4, 19/20 Aug: 10:00, 13:30, 14:30, 15:00, 16:00 (40 mins)
Æ Review: ★★★★★ Perfectly pitched
Bertie the Moon Dragon had one job to do and he has fallen asleep and missed his cue! Now how will the moon get up into the sky? Well, with the help of the young audience and their special magic sacks, can it all be sorted in time? Further details.
Plague, Poo ‘n’ Punishment
Edinburgh Storytellers Ltd
Greenside @ Riddles Court (Venue 16)
2 – 24 Aug (not 11, 18): 10:20:00 (50 mins)
Æ Review: ★★★★☆ Entertaining
Edinburgh’s gruesome past is brought to life by two performers in this hilarious and outrageously horrible family show, including live music and really bad jokes. A crime has been committed and we need you to decide if the culprit is guilty or very guilty. Further details.
Rik Carranza Presents: Marvel vs DC
Rik Carranza
Laughing Horse @ The Counting House (Venue 170)
1 – 18 Aug: 11:45(1 hr)
Which is the true home of heroes – Marvel or DC? In this interactive show, kids battle it out on behalf of their heroes in games and challenges to decide which franchise has the best heroes. Join comedian Rik Carranza for an action-packed hour filled with tests of speed, strength, and courage (aka all the things that make a hero). Whether you’re team Ant-Man or team Aquaman, team Iron Man or team Batman, be ready to champion your hero! Dressing up is strongly encouraged. Use of kryptonite may result in a timeout. Further details.
Sea Dragon for Under 6s
Dragon Song Productions
LifeCare Centre (Venue 524)
12 – 18 Aug: 10:00, 13:30, 14:30, 15:00, 16:00 (40 mins)
Æ Review: ★★★★★ Perfectly pitched
Three Kelpies arrive on the reef for a play date only to find that the colour from the coral has all washed away! Kipper the Sea Dragon comes to the rescue but he can’t work alone. He searches the sea for colours to help put the coral reef back together and with the help of a family of sea horses, a star fish and a very naughty crab. Further details.
Shark in the Park
Nonsense Room Productions
Assembly Rooms (Venue 20)
24/25 Aug: 12:00 (1 hr)
Æ Reviews of previous runs: ★★★★★ Enthusiastic retelling
Timothy Pope is looking through his telescope – but wait, is that a Shark, in the Park!? From the creative team behind The Hairy Maclary Show and You Choose – see all three of Nick Sharratt’s Shark in the Park books live on stage! Further details.
Sing Along With the Fairy Song
Janis Mackay
Scottish Storytelling Centre (Venue 30)
1 – 25 Aug (not 9, 14-16, 19-23): 11:45 (55 mins)
Æ Review: ★★★★☆ Ethereal
Award-winning children’s author and storyteller Janis Mackay invites the fairies of the forest and garden to listen to her stories, along with you. Sing along with the fairy song, dress up if you like and sprinkle some fairy magic. Further details.
Singing Willows
Singing Willows
French Institute in Scotland (Venue 168)
5 – 26 Aug (not Tue/Wed: 6/7, 13/14, 20/21): 15:00 (50 mins)
Æ Review: ★★★☆☆ Whimsical
Discover a whimsical world of music and language with Singing Willows – A bilingual and musical adventure pour les enfants! Singing Willows is an interactive, musical show filled with original songs and storytelling that will inspire children to dream. Further details.
Wriggle Around the World
Recitals for Wrigglers
Stockbridge Church (Venue 317)
13 – 22 Aug: 10:30, 14:00 (35 mins)
A fun, interactive and educational sell-out show for babies and toddlers that is also enjoyable by the whole family! Professional violinist and cellist perform familiar classical melodies and tell a musical version of The Gingerbread Man. Further details.
