A hypnotic, atmospheric, environmental sculpture. Walking into the melding of a bouncy castle (with no bounce) and Doctor Who’s (Circa Tom Baker) TARDIS, adults and children alike will be taken by the relaxing quality of the space and the possibilities for fun and play. Unfortunately for kids, the relaxing quality oft wins out, but fortunately for everyone else, they will be too mesmerised to make too much of a ruckus. Looking around at the kids in the space, when I went, they would walk through, jaws agape at the streaks of all natural light all around them. After a moment of reflection, they’d go through a hole in the wall to another space with streaks of natural light all around them, searching for somebody or something to play with, often encountering only venue docents.The stunning beauty of the space makes me question why this was lumped in under Children’s Theatre. Architects of Air have created a stunning and relaxing enclave in the middle of the busy George Square, and that should be applauded. But I’d be curious (and loathed) to experience the space closer to it’s eighty person capacity. Would the frenetic energy of forty children bring out the play in the space, or would the soothing soundscapes and affected lighting win out by inducing nap time? As a piece of Children’s theatre, it is not entirely effective. But taken at face value, as a piece of sculpture, as a meditative place to escape the hustle of the fringe, Mirazozo is one of the more distinctive experiences of this year’s festival.
