Edinburgh 2018: Review: THE SHOWSTOPPERS' KIDS SHOW, Pleasance Courtyard

Showstoppers! have made a name for themselves as the UK's most acclaimed and in-demand musical improvisers, creating brand new musicals in a single evening. As well as bringing their usual hit show to the Edinburgh Fringe, they present a highly entertaining family-friendly edition of the Showstoppers! experience.

The cast and two-piece band, dressed in colourful dungarees, are warming up and making up random songs on the spot as the audience file in, engaging the younger participants immediately.

Once everyone is seated, a single player from the band of improvisers enthusiastically explains the outline of the hour to come: the group will take suggestions from the audience regarding location, characters and plot points in order to craft a brand new musical story that has never been told before.

After the company warms up the crowd and requests the grown-ups take a back seat on suggestions, to encourage more ideas from the young ones, our particular story takes shape. It involves the fate of Emma the jelly baby who lives in a cave in candy land - to much of the older audience's dismay, the first suggestion of "a pub" by a youngster was not pursued.

Without a flinch, the ensemble seamlessly produce an exciting opening number and subsequent songs for the characters in our musical adventure. Our featured a Viking, a singing cheese and onion pie and a rugby team to hilarious effect - never underestimate the imaginations of young people.

No matter how random the suggestion, the Showstoppers make it fit into the story, even if it results in a drastic gear change in genre such as an impromtu "Hamilton-style" rap number. The cast also take the opportunity to bring as many children as they can on stage to contribute to a big dance number, with choreography suggestions taken from the audience.

There is also an attentive lighting operator who adjusts the hues of the stage to complement the improvised saga - in our case, blue when a pond appears in our tale. The piano and percussion duo flit between different styles and provide a supportive and engaged accompaniment to the cast.

You may not get to see the musical adventures of Emma the jelly baby ever again but you are sure to have a laugh, whatever your age, as you marvel at the storytelling skills of the Showstoppers! team in their Kids Show.

Showstoppers at Pleasance until 19 August

Photo credit: Gaby Jerrard PR

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