The Unlikely Friendship
of Feather Boy and Tentacle Girl

Edinburgh International Children's Festival

31 May - 7 Jun 2026 | Edinburgh International Children's Festival

Overview

Two friends perform a breathtaking aerial show. They fly, spin, hang from the rooftops and fall
out of the sky... But they weren't always so glorious. How did they transform from feeling like outsiders to the fantastical creatures they always knew they had inside them?


A touching story of a girl who wants to be a monster and a boy who wants to fly. This dynamic and visually stunning aerial show explores the universal yearning to belong and the joy of
friendship.

“Beautifully poetic and thought provoking.” -British Theatre Guide

Part of the Edinburgh International Children's Festival.

Created by Vee Smith and Sadiq Ali.

Produced by Catherine Wheels, commissioned by Imaginate, created in association with National Theatre of Scotland and supported by Assembly. Supported by the Scottish Government’s Festivals Expo Fund, development funded by Creative Scotland.

Age recommendation 8+

4 Stars

heart-warming, physically impressive show

British Theatre Guide

4 Stars

a touching celebration of friendship

Broadway World

4 Stars

I may not be a child, but I felt as excited and enthralled as one for a glorious hour

Theatre Weekly

4 Stars

Edinburgh should be proud of these two homegrown artists

The Quintessential Review

4 Stars

truly mesmerising to watch

All Edinburgh Theatre

4 Stars

the sheer beauty of the show helps to draw us in; weaving a spell that soothes the soul, and holds the audience rapt, from beginning to end

The Scotsman

4 Stars

Visually stunning and quietly profound

Edinburgh Festivals Magazine

4 Stars

more impressive than any CGI fodder

Three Weeks Edinburgh

4 Stars

a spectacular display of skill, stamina and showmanship

Fest Mag

4 Stars

innumerable beautiful images

ScotsGay Arts

Cast

Team

  • Name
    Gill Robertson
    Role
    Co-Creator & Dramaturg
  • Name
    Cleo McCabe
    Role
    Costume Designer
  • Name
    Guy Veale
    Role
    Sound Designer
  • Name
    Jen McGinley
    Role
    Set Designer
  • Name
    Junior Cunningham
    Role
    Movement Director
  • Name
    Rishi Trikha
    Role
    Artist Mentor
  • Name
    Jamie Heseltine
    Role
    Lighting Designer

Explore

Access

Set design: The set includes two Chinese poles in different heights and an aerial harness that will later turn into an aerial pole. There’s a small wind machine on the floor. At one point costumes are hoisted down from the roof, feathers blowing from the wind machine and at certain points shadows are cast onto the background from behind.
Performers: Two performers playing a younger version of themselves: Vee, a small woman with bright orange hair that wants to be a monster, and Sadiq, a tall mixed-heritage man who wants to fly. 
Lights: Theatrical lighting from the floor and corners of the stage. There are tones of greenish/blue, ocean like, interchanged by orange glows. There’s moving patterns on the background, and blackouts at certain points. 
Experience: The performance is mostly physical/circus with the performers alone and together on the various poles. There are some dramatic “falls” and a little bit of talking.
Capacity: 130