Ed’s Xmas treats revealed
Shark in Park and La Clique for Festival Square
Shark in the Park and La Clique Noel will feature in this year’s Edinburgh’s Christmas theatre offer as the Famous Spiegeltent returns to a pitch in Festival Square from November 17 2017 to January 6 2018.
Elsewhere around the city, the major new feature is The Ice Adventure, “a journey through frozen Scotland” containing life-like ice sculptures. Joining it on west George Street will be Santa’s Grotto.
Neshla Caplan, Keith McLeish and Kate Barnett in Shark in the Park. Pic Paul Watt.
George Street will be the focus for the opening event of Edinburgh’s Christmas with Light Night on Sunday 19 November, when the Christmas lights are switched on across the city. It will showcase some of Edinburgh’s amateur choirs and dance groups, including Little Voices Big Stars, Edinburgh Rock Choir and Edinburgh Ballet.
Shark in the Park is Edinburgh-based Nonsenseroom Productions’ take on Nick Sharratt’s popular books for young children, in which Timothy Pope receives a brand new telescope for his birthday. Taking it to the park to look up, look down and look all around, he is shocked to find that there is a shark in the park! Or is there?
The co-production with MacRobert in Stirling was first seen at the fringe in 2016, and brings into one story all three of the shark books: Shark in the Park, Shark in the Dark and Shark in the Park on a Windy Day. It is packed with songs and interaction in the kind of show that the under-fives will want to see again and again.
On a more adult vein, and also a show which people want to see again and again, is La Clique, invented by Spiegel-master David Bates for the 2004 fringe and providing saucy mix of cabaret, new burlesque, circus and contemporary vaudeville ever since.
spicy seasonal treats
This new production, La Clique Noel, will feature, among others, Scotty The Blue Bunny, Heather Holliday and Vicky Butterfly, while showcasing the talents of Dannie Bourne and The La Clique Palace Orkestra featuring Kelly Wolfgram.
Leah Shelton in Pulpshow. Pic: Stillsby Hill
Commenting on the return of the Spiegeltent, David Bates, said: “We’re coming home for Christmas. We’ve got some spicy seasonal treats in store for Scotland this winter with some new international acts that will bend your minds and bring the fishnets to your Christmas stocking!”
Also appearing at the Speigeltent will be family favourite, Baby Loves Disco, for the youngest groovers in town.
For the most part, Edinburgh’s Christmas will retain the successful operations of previous years with big wheel, rides, Santa Land’s Christmas Tree Maze and the Scottish Market. St Andrew Square will also retain its elliptical ice rink and the “24 Doors of Advent” will return, opening hidden doors around the city.
Listing
La Clique Noel
Festival Square Spiegeltent, Festival Square, Lothian Road.
Friday 17 November 2017 – Saturday 6 January 2018
Tickets and details: www.edinburghschristmas.com
Shark in the Park
Festival Square Spiegeltent, Festival Square, Lothian Road.
Friday 1 December 2017 – Saturday 6 January 2018
Tickets and details: www.edinburghschristmas.com
Baby Loves Disco’s Christmas Cheer
Festival Square Spiegeltent, Festival Square, Lothian Road.
Sundays 10, 17 and 24 December 2017
Tickets and details: www.edinburghschristmas.com
ENDS
