LISTINGS DAYS OUT

EASTER ' EGGSTRAVAGANZAS

From egg-rolling to Easter bonnets. . there's a whole plethora of‘ Easter-related events going on around the country. Aberdeen Sun 3. 2~5pm. L‘nion Terrace Gardens. ()utdoor entertainments with various competitions for children. including Easter egg rolling and decorated egg competition.

Almond Valley Heritage Centre Fri I—Mon 4. 10am—5pm. Livingston Mill. Millfield. Livingston. West l.othian. 0506 414957. £l.50 (75p). Almond Valley is open daily. but over Easter they are going all out to make the most of their new lambs and chicks with all sorts of special springtime games and activites. Children

can play ‘hunt the chick’ hei'ore following the treasure trail or cracking the egg code. I Inside the museum. aspiring artists might

want to try egg decorating or making easter bonnets. The Easter Bunny will also be on the loose and there will be a chance to ride in the Easter egg cart. Bo’ness Sat 2—Mon 4. Ham-5pm. Bo‘ness and Kinneil Railway. Union Street. Bo‘ness. West Lothian. 0506 822298. £3.20 (£1.60). The Easter Bunny will be handing out eggs to young visitors on the steatn trains running over the Easter period. i

David livingston Centre Sun 3. l.30—-5pm. I65 Station Road. Blantyre. 0698 823140. Egg decorating. egg rolling and all sorts of Easter fun at the Centre. Phone for prices and opening times over Easter. Easter Zoo Mon 4. Edinburgh Zoo. Corstorphine Road. Edinburgh. 031 334 9171. Easter treasure hunt around the zoo. following animal clues. Corgie City Farm, Edinburgh Sun 3. 9.30am—4pm. Gorgie City Farm. Gorgie Road. Edinburgh. Eree. Bring your eggs for a roll. with an opportunity to visit the new animals.

I HOUSE OF DUN Sun

offered in conjunction with the Caledonian

STRINGS 0F SUCCESS

Dr Donald Smith, secretary of the Puppet and Animation Festival, is talking puppets red, giant, bunraku, carnival, body, shadow, UV, mask. The festival has become a bit like the TV Times I never knew there was so much in it. It originated eleven years ago as a showcase for Scotland’s pool I of professional puppeteers. How it aims to reflect the state of puppetry and animation, in Scotland and Europe, ranging from the traditional to the mould-breaking, from classics like the first ever performance of The Adventures of Peter Rabbit to Tara Arts’ avant-garde production of The Tempest.

‘In terms of range of styles and approaches to imaginary theatre, the state of Scottish puppetry is healthier than ever,’ says Smith. He argues against categorising children’s puppet theatre into a ‘traditional’ ghetto, and instead sees a merging of both the classic and contemporary. ‘Development of the art must involve using a richer palette from across the board,’ he says. ‘Why shouldn’t children’s theatre be popular, experimental and exciting?’

The testival is unique in the UK with 1; its combination of puppeteering and animation. Animation highlights include Filmhouse screenings of the classic early work of Starewicz the Great, the Eisenstein of animation; and access to hands-on computer animation in a specially designed

; animation workshop at the Assembly Booms. ‘Puppeteering and animation g mustn’t be isolated,’ says Smith. ‘The

work emanating from outlets such as

: Edinburgh. ‘Although there’s a very

objects, ie puppets], the Scottish struggling to be born.’

every bit as imaginative as ‘ordinary’ : theatre, but the subsidised arts are a 5 Scottish tradition, and the public

art” theatre side of it is difficult.’ But watch your step, Sooty and Sweep,

All entering the house wearing appropriate

wine, from House of Dun).

3‘, all day. 3 miles west of Montri mi the bees. 074 810264. Steam train and vintage coach service from Brechin station to the House of Dun,

Railway (Brechin) Ltd, details from 0674

810318. 2—4pm: Milllnery mayhem tor those wearing eggstravegant Easter Bonnets.

head-gear will be awarded an Easter egg,

with judging for the best hat at 3.45pm. From 7.30pm maverick mllllner Donald lovat Fraser presents his account of The Heritage of Hat, 1509-1900 (tickets, £7 including

House of Dun Sun 3. all day. 3 miles west of Montrose on the A935. 0674 810264. See Photo Caption.

lochwinnoch HSPB Hature Centre Sun 3. from 1pm. Largs Road. Lochwinnoch. Renfrewshire. 0505 842663. £2 (50p). Easter Treasure Trail. The reserve is open daily.

Mugdock Country Park Sun 3. 2-3.3()pm. By Mugdock Village. oil. the A8] Milngavie—Strathblane road. Take your own decorated egg to their ‘eggstraordinary' competition with Easter , Prizes at 2pm. then join in the search for

painted eggs hidden around the park. Hew Lanark Sun 3/Mon 4. l lam—5pm. New Lanark Visitors Centre. New Lanark Mills. Lanark. 0555 66l345. £2.60 (£1.60). Easter fun day. with the added attraction on Sunday of the Falls of Clyde in full flow.

Traquair House Sun 3. 1.30pm. Traquair House. Innerleithen. Peebleshire. 0896 830 639. A chocolate treasure hunt for the under tens through the loops and alleys of the Traquair maze. The house will be open daily over the Easter period. Phone for times and prices.

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two areas intersect. Children and l young people interested in visual skills do not separate puppets and animation.’ This is demonstrated by the amount of puppet or model-based

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healthy Scottish sector in live animation [live theatre of inanimate

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Smith believes the two modes are

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bit snifty about the form. Why is that? ‘our strength is also our weakness,’ Smith explains. ‘The strength of puppet theatre is its strong roots in

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because the Festival’s cross- fertilizatlons are beginning to break down audiences’ perceptions. (Gabe

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