Edinburgh Festival `99: Children Review

Pru Irvine
Thursday 26 August 1999 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Dr Bunhead's Spangly New Cookbook

Venue 34, The Famous Grouse House. To 29 Aug. Ages 8+

This is what we all hoped science would be like at school. Especially chemistry. A visual feast of whizzes, bangs, explosions and scarlet concoctions bubbling forth from narrow test tubes. It wasn't like that, of course. But give me science with Dr Bunhead's magical chemistry cookbook any day.

In the space of an hour he can turn an onion into a frozen rock that smashes into tiny fragments when it hits the ground. There's a bionic banana that can hammer nails into wood and a running commentary on things chemical, physical and natural. Do you know why glow worms have green bottoms? Do you know how easy it is to make a swamp monster? These are definitely not things to be tried at home, but if you leave without having learnt a great deal, then shame on you.

There's lots of opportunity for participation, and would-be scientists are plucked from the audience. Once decked in silly overall, gardening gloves and goggles, they fall victim to fire, foam and fog. The humour is a touch earnest and not always necessary. Less jokes, more action, please. One of the few shows at this year's Fringe that has got the age group right.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in