Please Right Back
The jaw-dropping, dreamlike animations of 1927 linger long after the final curtain. Now, the restlessly inventive theatre company return to the international festival (after The Magic Flute and Roots) with this new story of a father who goes missing and sends outlandish letters back to his children. For children aged eight and over.
The Studio, 2-11 August
Cartoooon!!
Unicycling? Check. Acrobatics? Check. Assorted tomfoolery? Undoubtedly. From Japan, the award-winning duo Cheeky and Daiki promise a mischievous hour of manga circus staged in one of the prettiest venues for family theatre, the Piccolo tent. Ages three and over.
Assembly George Square Gardens, 1-26 August
A Jaffa Cake Musical
After musicals about Timpson cobblers and the Scouts, the Gigglemug comedy team tuck into one of the 20th century’s most fiercely contested court cases: the 1991 battle between HMRC and McVitie’s over whether Jaffa Cakes, despite their name, are in fact biscuits. Evidence in the trial included a giant freshly baked Jaffa. For over-eights.
Pleasance Courtyard, 31 July-26 August
Afrique en Cirque
Don’t be limited to the “children’s shows” section of the fringe programme: there’s plenty of dance, physical theatre and circus for families, too. Watch bodies become building blocks in Yamoussa Bangoura’s exhilarating production, inspired by daily life in Guinea and told with exuberant music. Ages five and over.
Assembly Hall, 1-26 August
Arturo Brachetti: Solo
Fed up with your children spending hours getting dressed for school? Inspire them with a visit to Italian showman Arturo Brachetti, named the world’s most prolific quick costume change artist by Guinness World Records in 2002. He’ll be bringing 50 characters to life. For over-fives.
Pleasance at EICC, 31 July-25 August
Fernando and His Llama Friend
There is a short run for this Canadian production, featuring an all-deaf cast and using American Sign Language. For children aged five and over, it’s the adventure of a young Colombian boy who moves to North America and feels isolated until he befriends a llama who needs to be reunited with its family.
Zoo Southside, 6-11 August
Monkeys Everywhere
You wouldn’t want to take your children to Garry Starr’s night-time show Classic Penguins (a “mostly naked” race through every Penguin Classic novel ever). But his morning performance should be fun for the over-fives as he explores how to prevent his mind from monkeying around.
Pleasance Courtyard, 31 July-25 August
The Show for Young Men
A dance duet about modern masculinity, performed by a man and a boy. Robbie (44) and Alfie (10) play on a building site at dawn in Eoin McKenzie’s “funny and tender” production, which is part of the reliably excellent Made in Scotland Showcase. For over-eights.
Assembly @ Dance Base, 2-24 August
Magical Bones: Bonefide Magic
The illusions and sleight-of-hand tricks often come with a side order of hip-hop and breakdancing when Magical Bones takes the stage. The Britain’s Got Talent finalist is back, after a nationwide tour, for a short run. Over-12s.
Underbelly, Bristo Square, 1-11 August
Rosie and Hugh’s Great Big Adventure
CBeebies’ Nick Cope is known for a lively popcast featuring his trusty whippet Norman. But it’s Hugh the hedgehog – plus a squirrel, a lizard and a dragon – who joins schoolgirl Rosie on this adventure for children aged three to eight, powered by Cope’s original songs.
Pleasance Courtyard, 31 July-18 August
Taiwan Season: Lost Connection
Where could be better than the kaleidoscopic fringe to encourage children to ditch their smartphones for the day? And what better show to banish the bad habit of phubbing altogether? Wen-Jen Huang’s dance production is a whirl of movement that considers the ills of being glued to your mobile.
Summerhall, 1-25 August
Doktor Kaboom: Man of Science!
David Epley’s madcap character is back at the fringe for a third year, with lessons and experiments for kids that aim to be as empowering as they are hair-raising. Prepare for a game of “smoke bubble volleyball” in a supremely silly hour of science that, in his own words, is “no patronising magic show”. Aged eight plus.
Pleasance Courtyard, 31 July-26 August
