Words: Berlyn Lee

5 Stars

Take a break from the busy streets of the Edinburgh Fringe and step into a world of shimmering beauty and calm designed specifically for babies under a year and their grown-ups. 

As a mother of 10-month-old twins, I was sceptical that any type of performance (even those targeted towards children) would hold their attention for longer than one fleeting moment, but I’m happy to have been proven wrong! 

Float is an immersive experience that invites parents to unplug and allows babies to freely explore an underwater world of wonder and sparkling lights. As a durational performance it repeats five “stages” several times over the course of three hours. Families can come and go as they need (which was great for dirty nappies and snack breaks), relieving the pressure of time.

The whimsical blending of blue and silver textiles for pillows, floor mats, and curtains by set designer Alison Brown made it easy to relax with the babies. Meanwhile, performers Maddie Broad, Kerry Cleland, Rachel Laird, and Shiori Usui kept the little ones entranced & engaged through dance, interactive noise making and singing. 

Kerry Cleland and Starcatchers worked very hard to create a welcoming, comfortable space to explore and have fun with your wee ones, and I think it was a smashing success. We had just a brilliant time with our twins! They had so much fun that they fell asleep in the pillows before the show even ended (no easy feat with these two!). We can’t wait to see the next project by this lovely team!

Float
Cromdale Theatre at Pleasance at EICC
11:30
9-22 Aug