The Kids Get Stuck In

Ellie Rutherford

Spotlites Drama Workshop for 5-14s

3 Stars

I really enjoyed the drama workshop for kids. Each day there is a different theme and the day I went it was about dinosaurs. When I arrived, my Mum dropped me off and I was taken upstairs to a big room where all the children sat in a circle. I was quite nervous, as I didn’t know anyone, but I soon made a friend and the leader was really friendly and quite funny.

After talking about all the different types of dinosaurs, we went into small groups and got to act and be stupid which was fun. We did lots of drama games and activities like parachuting out of a helicopter. In one game we had to get from one side of the room to the other without getting eaten by a dinosaur, it was really exciting. My favourite was the slow motion battle where the dinosaurs attacked the humans. I was a human and got my head chopped off! The workshop was fully booked with both boys and girls and I think the younger ones enjoyed it most. It would have been more fun if we had dressed up or had props but maybe you get to do that in the other workshops.

Molly Robertson

Flamenco for Kids!

3 Stars

Flamenco is a Spanish show where they show you a dance and then you get to try it yourself. When you go into the hall it is quite small and dark. There were not very many people there to see the show and only one boy. The show starts with hardly any lights on and just Ricardo on stage playing some flamenco music on his guitar. Then Ida and Frederic do a dance. They then ask if anyone wants to come onto the stage and learn how to do some flamenco dancing (you don’t have to if you don’t want to) and your mum or dad are allowed to do it too! First they showed us to clap, then how to do your hands, and some steps, then you had to do it all together. You get the chance to put on a flamenco dress and put on a small show with all the things they have shown you. If you want to buy a flamenco dress you can.

Be warned it is very loud with all the clapping and stamping of feet. It is probably more suitable for younger children aged 4-7 than for older ones.

Ross Salters

Peter Pan: Learn to Fly

4 Stars (Show) 5 Stars (Workshop)

The show began when a girl’s voice started whispering stories about Peter Pan. While she was talking I could see lots of actors and actresses swinging above my head. It was clever how there were about 15 characters in the play but only around 8 actors. Sometimes there were silhouettes on set and sometimes there were actors but it was always a good performance. The thing that was a bit different (but still good) was that nearly all the actors were girls. Some children chose to sit on mats near the stage, and sometimes the actors were VERY close and acted around them.

After the show the workshop started. In the workshop we could swing through the air and do big bungee jumps like we had seen in the show. This is great for school aged children and adults (who like to be big kids). I tried quite a few of these stations but some of them were just too high for me.

The venue was good and there lots of seats and mats, go see it and have a great time – this is a five star workshop!

Peter Pan: Learn to fly, Leith on the Fringe @ Out of the Blue Drill Hall, dates and times vary, see www.leithonthefringe.com