Baddiel's best-selling book comes to the stage

YOUNG Malcolm, has a problem, he doesn't like animals... and his family home is full of pets. And there's worse to come.

Animalcolm by David Baddiel

Story Pocket Theatre bring David Baddiel’s best-selling book Animalcolm to life in the Debating Hall of the Gilded Balloon Teviot, every morning at 11.30am.

Malcolm’s weird and wonderful journey of discovery of life with animals starts when he really wants a new laptop for his birthday... instead he gets a pet chinchilla and a ticket for the annual three-day school trip to a farm full of animals.

During the most bizarre weekend adventure, Malcolm learns at close hand what it’s like to be an animal and starts to appreciate just how amazing animals really are. He also learns that sometimes it is hard to become yourself.

Combining physical performances with enchanting music, puppetry and a gloriously funny script by Adam Fletcher-Forde, Animalcolm the production is designed by Jackie Trousdale who worked on David Walliams’s Gangsta Granny and Awful Auntie as well as the Horrible Histories shows.

Story Pocket Theatre made its Fringe debut in 2013, an instant success.

Their patron, author of children’s classics such as War Horse and Private Peaceful, Michael Morpurgo says, “It was apparent straight away that Story Pocket’s focus was on sharing stories in a bright, imaginative way.

“My passion for stories and writing has taken me all over the world and I am lucky enough to see my stories in print and on stage and screen.

“It was Story Pocket’s passion for story telling that struck me… I am delighted to be the Patron of Story Pocket Theatre Company.”

Animalcolm, Debating Hall, Gilded Balloon, Teviot, until 19 August, 11.30 am, £7-£12, 0131-226 0000