⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and a half
We took our four children (aged 2, 3, 6 and 9) along to Winni Wizard and Her Magical Smells, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen all of them so completely absorbed in a show for such a solid stretch of time.
From the moment Winni bounded onto the stage, they were laughing, pointing, joining in, and calling things out – and that energy never dipped for the entire 50 minutes.
Winni’s performance is wonderfully ridiculous. It’s the kind of joyful chaos that children absolutely thrive on.
The show is packed with audience participation, playful stage humour, and genuinely funny jokes that land across a wide age range. There was also science-style experiments that gave the older kids just enough intrigue to keep them fully engaged as well. Our children laughed from the very beginning right through to the end, and even our youngest stayed glued to what was happening on stage.
What really impressed me was Winni’s stage presence and her ability to work with the audience in real time. She doesn’t just tolerate children calling out – she actively builds on it, turning unexpected comments into running jokes and weaving them seamlessly back into the story.
She moves into the crowd several times throughout the show, which made the experience feel immersive and exciting, particularly for the younger children who loved being so close to the action.
The music was another big win. Winni uses her own playful versions of familiar songs, which meant the kids immediately recognised the tunes and felt confident singing along. That sense of familiarity made it easy for them to participate without hesitation, and it added to the feeling that this was a show made with kids, not just for them.
The Old Mill Theatre is a very small, intimate venue, which suits the high-energy nature of the performance beautifully. However, it is worth noting that it can get quite noisy. For children with high auditory sensory needs, that may be something to consider when deciding whether this is the right fit. Aside from that, the setting worked perfectly for the lively, interactive style of the show.
The Fringe synopsis describes Winni Wizard and Her Magical Smells as a “high energy, interactive whirlwind”, and that really does sum it up. The story of Winni tackling the chaos of running her family’s magic shop is full of enchantment, calamity and cheeky humour that had our kids completely hooked.
If you have children roughly between the ages of 3 and 10, this is a fantastic Fringe pick. It is silly, engaging, cleverly performed, and genuinely fun for the whole family. We had a brilliant time and would happily recommend it to anyone looking for a show that keeps kids laughing, involved, and utterly entertained from start to finish.