12 Aug 08

Cloudcuckooland was inspired by Aristophanes' play 'The Birds' and entertains children with an all-singing, all-dancing tale of using bird poo to save the planet.

Two shows produced by Oxford University’s Onassis Programme are currently appearing in this year’s Edinburgh Festival.

Cloudcuckooland has been a big success for the programme and continues to be in Edinburgh, while Pick and Myths – a new storytelling show for the under 5s – has opened at the Festival to a great response.

Oxford University’s Onassis Programme for the Performance of Greek Drama is part of the Faculty of Classics and commissions, nurtures and produces contemporary theatre inspired by classical Greek drama.

Helen Eastman, producer of the Onassis Programme, which has been running since 2005, said: 'We are delighted to have taken Onassis Programme shows to the Edinburgh Festival this year - it is an opportunity to showcase what the programme is doing  to the international arts community and to a wider theatre going audience. Families have been loving the shows and it is a great way for the University to take Classics to kids.'

The hour-long Cloudcuckooland, aimed at children six and upwards, follows some feathered friends who battle to save the planet with bird poo. Performed by seven all-singing, all-dancing actor-musicians it was inspired by Aristophanes' 'The Birds'. The original 2000 year old play is about two men who are thoroughly fed up with the city they live in and decide to go and found a perfect city in the sky with the birds.

Pick and Myths is a short show in which three actors tell youngsters the most exciting of the Greek myths, with songs, audience participation, friendly monsters and silly hats. Children get to hear about the king who grew donkey's ears, the clever goddess Athena, and a little boy who learned to fly.

The festival started on 8 August and runs until 31 August.