BIG KID KINDERGARTEN - REVIEW

As America Ferrera said recently many of us, but especially women, grow up too fast. Before you know it we have to put the toys aside and begin paying bills and deal with a never-ending laundry pile. Well have no fear, Big Kid Kindergarten is here!

Not technically a show, more of an interactive experience, Big Kid Kindergarten allows you to be transported back to your youth. You’re encouraged to jump head-first into this 55-minute experience, put your phone down and be present.

Our teacher, Soleil Kohl encourages us to pick up a material and take a seat, she then asks us to all introduce ourselves and our preferred pronouns. We then spend the next half an hour or so making new friends, playing, crafting, and building.

There are duplo blocks, playdoh, arts and crafts materials, and PVA glue – which most of us placed on the back of our hands, let it dry and peeled off. There is then time for a nap, during which Kohl explains to us why this experience is important and why she has created it. It was emotional for some people in the room, probably those that had to grow up quickly, or that maybe didn’t have the nicest of childhoods.

I feel the space this experience is held within could be improved, it was rather a dark room and the lighting was far too bright and slightly jarring after nap time. I also hoped we’d have one of the rugs with a town printed on it that you can drive your toy car along, as this was the background image on the show’s website.

This festival, whilst joyous, can be overwhelming, for artists, reviewers, workers, and even just the people of Edinburgh who have to suddenly deal with silent disco tours everywhere – Big Kid Kindergarten allows you to unlock your inner child, to simply have fun and leave your stresses and worries at the door. It’s the best form of escapism, a great way to decompress, and something I implore you to do – we could all do with an hour of playtime, even as adults. Kohl is the perfect kindergarten teacher, softly spoken, patient, kind, and inclusive.

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{🎟 AD – PR invite – Tickets were gifted in exchange for an honest review}

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