KIDS

LISTINGS

Events torchlidron are listed by city, thonby catloofl. titon alphabetically byvonuo. Events will be listed, provided tbotdotoiis roach our otllcos at least ten days before publication. Kids Listings compiled by none Taylor.

GLASGOW Activities and tun

I DOME OF DISCOVERY South Rotunda, Govan Road, 427 1792.

Over 60 exhibits to have push, pull and press. Fun for parents too. Open all year, Tue-Sun 10am—5.30pm. Kids £1 .20; adults £2 (family ticket, 2 adults and 2 kids £5).

I EASTWOOD BUTTERFLY FARM Rouken Glen, 620 2084.

Indoor tropics with hundreds of butterflies flitting about. Creepy Crawlies housed in the Insect Kingdom. Open every day, 10am—5.30pm. Kids £1; adults£1.50 (family ticket, 2 adults and up to 4 kids

£4).

I GLASGOW ZOO Calderpark, Uddingston, 771 1185.

Open every day, 10am-5pm Kids£l .90; aduhs£3.

Exhibitions

I MUSEUM OF TRANSPORT Bunhouse Road, 357 3929.

Largest collection ofvehicles in the UK, from prams to trams. Wander down a pre-war Glasgow street complete with cinema and subway. New attraction! Super-X simulator for armchair travel with a difference. Kids 75p; adults£1.50. Mon-Sat 10am—5pm; Sun 2—5pm. Admission to museum free.

Film I PAISLEY ARTS CENTRE New Street,

Paisley,8871010. The Hunted (U) Shipwrecked, lumbered

dog Benjy takes it all in his stride. Sat 11 May 1.30pm. Kids 50p; adults£1.

Ounngs

North Ayrshire, 0563 34257. Working farm with daily demonstrations of farm activities. Tractor rides available and 3 and 4-wheeler motor bikes for older children and adults. Lots of animals. Outdoor play area and under-cover play space when wet. Open every day, 10.303m—5pm. Kids £1.50; adults £2 or £6 r car.

i i I I I I

THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS

Mark tilvon and Lose lronsie in TAG’s Whispers in the Dark

ANTHONY BRANINAN

Kid's shows are notoriously difficult to get right, too often overplaying educational themes at the expense oi being patronising and/or boring. TAG's new production, Whispers In The Dark, mostly aimed at schools, avoids both these traps and is a bright and touching tale oi the last three storytellers in a land where invading giants have banned all stories and songs. All, Patch and Potpan live rough in the

mountains (a striking, tent-like backdrop) keeping alive the oral tradition, but then a spy arrives in their midst. . .

The themes ol censorship, colonialism and repression are obvious- in eradicating all memories of the people’s culture, the giants have them completely undertheir control. The play was originally based on the suppression ol lrish Gaelic in the 18th century. John Binnie oi Clyde Unity Theatre has adapted it well, though with perhaps too much stress on broad Scots with which city children might have a problem. It’s a serious play and TAG has wisely avoided ioilying it up (though there is some knockabout humour). Intelligent, thoughttul 8—12-year-olds (or so) should appreciate the imaginative stimulus, and enjoy it too. (Andrea Baxter)

TAG’s Whispers In The Dark, Easterhouse CEC, Glasgow, Mon 13—Fri 17 May, 10am and 1.30pm; the Edinburgh Children’s international Festival, Tue 28 May—Sun 2 Jun; and touring Strathclyde primary schools irom Thurs 25 Apr-Fri 7 Jun.

enjoy the steam roller demonstrations! Sun 12 May. 10am—5pm. Admission free. See also Edinburgh Outings section.

Theatre

I BELLSHILLL CULTURAL CENTRE John Street, Bellshill, Motherwell.

Puss ’n’ Boots Well-loved fairytale performed by the Handyworks Puppet Company. Sat 11 May 11am. Kids£l; adults £2 (Passport to Leisure £1.50).

I CUMBERNAULD THEATRE 0236 732887.

; Advance booking for children‘s shows

. recommended to avoid disa intmcnt. With some orphaned cougar cubs - wonder : ppo

Kids' Stuff Fun, magic and songs for for

4—11-year-olds. 1.15pm. Kids£1.25; adults£1.75. } SaNMayMrBoom.

IIfiKELBURN COUNTRY CENTRE On the A78 3

between Largs and F airlie, 0475 568685. Open daily 10am—6pm. Attractions include Pets Corner, Commando course, Riding Centre (phone for bookings), Nature Centre, Adventure Course and Wooden Stockade.

I SUMMERLEE HERITAGE TRUST West Canal Street, Coatbridge, 023631261. 23-acre museum illustrating 200 years of Scottish people and industry including the first working tramway in Scotland. Spring Fling Day out for all the family. Face-painting, magic shows, live music, swingboats, bouncy castle ..Dads might

Seminar Al k' ' p -, IBLACKSHAWFARM PARKWestKilbride, A V 8 mm “was

I MOTHERWELL THEATRE Civic Centre. 0698 67515.

Grandpa’s Oulet Day An old man and his grandson intend to spend the day in their beautiful garden things do not run to plan! Presented by Black Box Puppet Theatre Company. Sat 4 May 2pm. Kids £1; adults £2 (Passport to Leisure £1.50).

I PAISLEY ARTS CENTRE New Street, Paisley, 887 1010.

Mr Bones Crazy capers with Mr B and with playful puppets.

This World I: Ours 45—minute show of drama, music and poetry on the theme of the endangered planet, presented by P.A.C.K. Sun 5 May 2pm.

Toilyitis Borderline Theatre Company present the story of Ed, a television addict who is forced into the land beyond the television screen by nasty Square Eyes who has wicked plans for the world's tv viewers. Sat 11 May 7pm. Kids £1 ; adults £2 (family ticket, 2 kids and 2 adults £5).

EDINBURGH

Activities and iun

I EDINBURGH CENTRAL LIBRARY George IV Bridge.

Free creche facilities available to Central Library users. Tuesdays and Thursdays, l()am—noon. Open to children of all ages. Large selection of toys. Run by the Edinburgh Creche Co-op.

I EDINBURGH DANCE PROJECT

Youth dance groups meet at Calton Centre (Montgomery Street), in South Queensferry, Abbcyhill, Tolleross and Ainslie Park. New term starts Mon 8 Apr. Contact 220 4348 for details.

Fun and Fitness for all the tamlly Saturdays

l()am—noon, includes under-10$ table

tennis club. 50p per session.

I THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN lnverleith

Row,552 7171 ext454.

Lots of youngsters have visited the Living in a Ralnlorest project in the gardens in school parties but it‘s worth a second visit with mum and dad. Centrepiece ofthe

f exhibition is the Borneo-style longhouse

which serves as a classroom for educational groups and Family Workshops which run throughout the year. Children must be accompanied by at least one adult and vice versa! (Not suitable for under-7s). Places must be booked as numbers are limited. Contact Marisa Main at the Garden. Kids £2; adults £4 (£10 family).

Set 4 May Dyeing to create a rainforest. Be creative with batik artist Fran Marquis Faulkes. llam—1.30pm.

18 May High Flyers. Make and fly your own kite with Paul Carline. 11am—3pm.

, I THINS BOOKSHOP 53—59 South Bridge, 556 6743. I Saturday Club Every Saturday,

10.30—11.30am. Activities and competitions for 3—1 l-year-olds. plus storytelling for younger children. Free.

Exhibitions

I MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD 42 High Street. 225 2424.

in for a Penny Display for money boxes through the ages. ranging from early American mechanical banks to the brands issued by building societies and bank today. Exhibition also includes manufactured games which use money as a theme.

Ongoing children's competition. Museum 0an Mon—Sat. l()am—Spm. Admission free.

Film

I EDINBURGH FILMHOUSE Lothian Road. 228 2688.

Saturday afteroon children‘s matinees; all seats £1. bookable. Films start 2pm.

Sat 4 May The Neverending Story 2 (U) Young Bastian returns to the intriguing land of Fantasia to help fight against evil. Sat 11 May The Bear (U) Real-life adventures of a lovable grizzly.

Oufings

I EDINBURGH BUTTERFLY FARM Melville

Nurseries, Lasswade. 663 4932.

Tropical paradise of flitting butterflies.

Tarantulas and other little hairy

many-legged things can be found in the

Insect World. Open every day.

l()am-5.30pm. Kids £1 .45; adults £2.60

(under 55 free).

I PURVES PUPPETS Biggar Little Theatre.

Broughton Road, Biggar, Lanarkshire.

(1899 20631.

Miniature Victorian puppet theatre run by

the Purves family. (Vi-hour drive from

Edinburgh; 1 hour from Glasgow) set in

attractive gardens which include games

and picnic area. Puppet shows, workshops

and guided tours. Often fully booked—

best not to go on spec. Phone for times and

details. Open daily Mon to Sun. closed

Wed.

I SAFARI AND LEISURE PARK Blair

Drummond, Near Stirling, 0768 841456.

View elephants, lions, bison safari-style.

Other attractions include sea-lion show,

pets corner,splash cats, pedal boats,

adventure playground and astraglide.

Open daily from 10am, lastadmission

7 4.30pm. Kids £3 (3—14-year-olds);adults £4.50. I SCOTTISH MINING MUSEUMS Lady Victoria Colliery Newtongrangc, 10 i

miles south of Edinburgh of the A8.

Includes the largest steam engine in

Scotland, the Grant-Ritchie winding, j engine. Put on a hard-hat and view this mighty machine and visit the pit-head. Visitor Centre exhibitions and tearoom. Open daily, 11am—4pm. Kids 80p; adults £1.25 (free on Sundays). Prestongrango On 81348 between Musselburgh and Prestonpans. Visitor 3 Centre housed in the former colliery canteen. exhibition area. Star attraction is aCornish beam engine, uniquein ' Scotland, used to pump water from the mine. Open daily 11am—4pm. Free but donations welcomed. For further

, information on both collieries, contact i

1 Lady Victoria Colliery, 663 7519.

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