Kids' Show Dramaturgy: Adam Meggido @ Edfringe 2016

The Showstoppers' Kids' Show

Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33) ​

Aug 3-21 11.40am

Here in their very own story factory, Olivier Award-winning West End improvisers, The Showstoppers, take your kids’ ideas and transform them into marvellous, musical adventures, on the spot and direct from their imaginations. If your children could create their dream musical, where would they start? A dolls’ house? A magic castle? The spooky cupboard downstairs? Grown-ups please take note – youngsters call the shots in the story factory and suggestions are only taken from kids!

What was the inspiration for this performance?

AFTER A FEW YEARS OF PLAYING SHOWSTOPPER THE IMPROVISED MUSICAL, WE REALISED THAT SOME OF THE BEST SUGGESTIONS CAME FROM KIDS IN THE AUDIENCE. SO WE DECIDED TO DO A SHOW FOR KIDS. IT’S AN ENTIRELY IMPROVISED MUSICAL BUT THE KIDS TELL US WHAT TO DO. IN FACT WE ONLY TAKE SUGGESTIONS FOR KIDS - AND THEY CAN GET INVOLVED IN THE ACTION TOO!

How did you go about gathering the team for it?

IT’S THE SAME OLIVER AWARD -WINNING TEAM THAT CREATED SHOWSTOPPER THE IMPROVISED MUSICAL. PLUS KIDS CAN BE IN IT TOO SO THEY ARE PART OF THE TEAM!

How did you become interested in making performance?

MOST OF US IN THE TEAM ARE PRETTY TERRIBLE AT EVERYTHING ELSE. EXCEPT DYLAN EMERY WHO ACTUALLY RUNS PROPER BUSINESS AND PHILIP PELLEW WHO IS AN EXPERT IN SIEGE TACTICS.

Was your process typical of the way that you make a performance?

YUP. WE GET TOGETHER. WE TRY STUFF OUT. WE ARGUE. WE MAKE EACH OTHER LAUGH. WE GET STRESSED. THEN WE STOP WORRYING ABOUT IT. THEN WE START ALL OVER AGAIN. SO, YES, TYPICAL REALLY.

What do you hope that the audience will experience?

A GREAT FUN SHOW IN WHICH ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. THE KIDS TELL US WHAT TO DO AND CAN GET INVOLVED AT TIMES. IT’S INTERACTIVE WITHOUT BEING INTIMIDATING, IT’S PLAYFUL, FUNNY AND ORIGINAL EVERY SINGLE TIME.

What strategies did you consider towards shaping this audience experience?

HOW TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE FUN.

Do you see your work within any particular tradition?

ERRR….. ENTERTAINMENT?