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Foundations

Foundations

Underbelly, Cowgate, Aug 16-21

by Flora Gosling 

Sometimes the best way to tell a family-friendly story is with a little bit of darkness. Foundations is a show for children aged eight and up, set underground, about a society of brain-washed robots, featuring deception, betrayal, and a beautiful friendship. We meet MJ (Charlie Culley), a young woman who ventures underground and discovers a friendly robot named Pins, who has so much to learn about the outside world.

The robots are performed through steampunk puppets that look like something you would see in Coraline or 9. Pins’ puppeteer (Olivia Swain) infuses them with character, and even though the puppeteer of the other robot Bolts (Rory Gee) performed more through his body than with the puppet he still gave an entertaining performance. As the grounding, human character for the performance, Culley is an energising stage presence. Audiences will be hard-pushed to find a more cohesive and well-rehearsed student ensemble at this year’s Fringe. Under co-directors AV Renko and Aimee Dickinson they make the most of their cast and the space, especially during their choreographed sequences as robots and factory workers (which are eerily similar).

The story itself, as they have said themselves, is Pixar-esque. It has a clean, friendship-orientated narrative with a thrilling climax and a thoroughly gratifying (if a little sad) conclusion. It is not unique enough to warrant an adult buying a ticket on their own, but it is encouraging to see a show for children with this much weight. Foundations is a well-rounded performance that offers families with children aged eight to thirteen something different and fulfilling to add to their Fringe itineraries.

Four Stars