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Small
ships - what's in it for children One of the main attractions will be the strange and memorable "Big Rory", an odd-looking character who has played to crowds the world over. He's a big street star in many countries, and has notched a great number of accolades, including the first Australian Busking Championships with one of his sidekicks "Wee Malky". Beneath the daft flame-haired wig is Mike Rowan, from Stirling. This multi-talented man is also multi-lingual, doing shows in English, French, German and Japanese with wee Malky and their other team member "Morag." They will be bringing their new show to Lerwick, which has been especially designed for sea ports. It involves two seagulls, pizza boxes and a giant cleaning lady. A dashing, but incredibly stupid, pirate is also setting sail for Lerwick to delight and entertain the crowds. Captain Bullock will perform fanciful feats and eccentric experiments using circus skills, slapstick comedy and maritime music. The Bell and Bullock show, which promises to have visitors of all ages rolling with laughter, has been created by street theatre team Karen Bell and Dafe Bullock, from Tyne and Wear. Cavalcade Theatre Company from London will be bouncing onto the scene with an hour-long show about "Blackbeard the Pirate" each day of the event. The company is coming to Shetland before the race fleet as part of the Shetland Children's Festival Roadshow. The players are bringing a variety of street theatre and workshops to the event, from bawdy sea shanties to a comic tug o' war. They will also be in Unst for the island's nautical festival Baltasail, the weekend before the ships are due in Lerwick. And if the youngsters are not too exhausted after all that, send them spinning on the merry-go-round which will be sited on Commercial Street, outside the Royal Bank of Scotland. The artistically-minded are also catered for -- a jolly band of face painters, headed by Kay Sandison from Scalloway, will be creating topical masterpieces on small faces, including fully-rigged ships and leaping dolphins. Sail Shetland is also hoping to bring all the fun of the fair to town. So far, however, no site has been identified for Codona International, the company behind the funfair in Aberdeen. |
