Having attended ‘Children are Stinky’ with Thomas (9), George (8), and Ella (4), I can confidently say this show is a hit among its young audience! The combination of fart gags, juggling, circus acrobatics, and body odour jokes kept all three of them thoroughly entertained, with plenty of giggles erupting throughout the performance. The high-energy antics wafted through the venue – which kid doesn’t love a good fart joke?
Presented by Circus Trick Tease, this 50-minute action-packed production cleverly explores the question of whether children are stinky, lazy, unintelligent, or unimaginative. Throughout the performance, the two presenters, ‘Kylie’ and ‘Jason,’ weave impressive acrobatic tricks and stunts with the enthusiastic help of young audience members. Their script is filled with humour that resonates with kids and parents alike, keeping everyone laughing and applauding. The chemistry between Kylie and Jason is evident as they bounce off each other—sometimes literally! Very occasionally you could spot the extent that they amused each other as well as the audience.
As the audience enters, kids are immediately drawn into the fun, with balloons and playful antics appearing from behind the colourful backdrop. The show is rife with audience interaction, allowing children to contribute to the stunts and ultimately help answer the pressing question of whether kids are truly stinky. While some stunts may not have directly tied into the storyline, they were undeniably impressive and crowd-pleasing. We particularly appreciated the strength of Kylie and commented how cool it is to see such a strong woman.
The slapstick moments were frequent and undeniably fun, making it a delightful experience for the kids. As a millennial parent, I appreciated the nostalgic 90s hits that added an extra layer of enjoyment for adults in the crowd. There were a fair few ‘Ramsey Street’ references that would’ve gone over the heads of many – but definitely added to the fun for me. Assembly Square Gardens proved to be an excellent venue for a family outing, offering plenty of snack options that kept the kids fuelled and happy. However, I did notice one particularly young audience member who became quite upset, necessitating her carer to take her out of the show. It’s a pity, especially considering the ticket price, but this just goes to show that while the humour is infectious, some children may not be ready for the high-energy antics. The Assembly offer such a wide range of kids show, that I would advise picking carefully – this one is upbeat, fast paced, and very silly. Perfect for some kids but not for others.
Overall I would say that ‘Children are Stinky’ is a vibrant, engaging performance that successfully combines humour, acrobatics, and audience participation. It’s a perfect choice for families looking to enjoy a fun-filled hour that both kids and parents can appreciate. We’re saying 5 stars from the kids and 4 from the adults – whilst the acrobatics were undeniably cool, the perpetual fart humour was better for the kids!
We were gifted tickets for the purpose of this review – we also bought some too – but all thoughts are our own. Tickets are available here.
