KIDS

We welcome submissions for this section, but cannot guarantee inclusion. Please send details to our offices at least ten days before publication. Kids listings compiled by Helen Monaghan.

Activities And Fun

The Really Wild Show Roadshow Tue 20 Apr. 7.30pm. £3—-£5. Royal Concert Hall. 2 Sauclrielrall Street. 287 5511. Visit a rain forest and check out the Antarctic at this really wild evening with TV's Howie Watkins.

Theatre

Tapsalteerie Tales Sat l7 Api'. 2pm. £3 (£2). Scottish Mask R Puppet Theatre Centre. 8—- It) Balcarres Avenue. Kelvirrdale. 3396185. Ages 38. Traditional fairy stories from Ian Turbitt‘s Pu )pet Theatre.

Morag An The Water Horse Sat 24 Apr. 2pm. £3 (£2). Scottish Mask & Puppet Theatre Centre. 8—10 Balcar'res Avenue. Kelyiritlale. 3396185. Ages 5+. .lack ()‘l.antern's adaptation of this traditional Scottish folktale which tells the story of Morag. whose father sends her away to look after the cattle. even though a terrible Kelpie (or water horse) lives near by.

Books

Nursery Rhyme Storytime Sat 17 Apr'. I larrr. Borders Books. 283 Buchanan Street. 222 7700. Join the storytime team for popular nursery rhymes.

Egyptian Storytime Sat 24 Apr'. 1 Iain. Borders Books. 283 Buchanan Street. 222 7700. Find otrt more about ancient Egypt with the stor'ytiiire team.

World Book Day Fri 23 Apr. Various venues. To celebrate World Book Day. a whole Irost of activities are on offer throughout the (lay at all major book shops. Children's authors will be dropping in to read from their work. and there will be workshops. competitions and discounts off hooks. See Book I'At‘ttls. page 95-96.

EDINBURGH

Activities And Fun

Quickies For Kids Royal Museum Of Scotland. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. Free entry to museum for visitors aged 18 and under. Terr-minute talks for children held every Saturday at 2.15pm and every

THE SOOTERIES WiTH LIANA BRIDGES Sun 18 Apr, 2.30pm 8! 4.30pm. £4.50 (£3). East Kilbride Arts Centre, Old Coach Road, East Kilbride, 01355 261000. Meet TV's favourite bear Sooty in this fun- packed show for all the family. Joining him are pals Sweep, $00 and Little Cousin Scampi and together, they'll no doubt be causing mayhem in Sooty’s inimitable style.

Sunday at 3.15pm. Topics include Hair- 7}) Staij Cat on Sat 17 Apr and The Jungle Book on Sun 18 Apr. The following week learn about Bears on Sat 24 Apr and Wild Cats on Sun 25 Apr. Easter Playscheme Until Fri 16 Apr. £1.15—£2.50 per session. Meadowbank Sports Centre. 139 London Road. 661 5351. Keep boredom at bay with a Irost of activities to choose from including climbing. trampolirrirrg. roller disco. badminton and play sessions.

Make A Hot Air Balloon Thu 15 Apr. 10am—12.30pm. £ 10. Royal Observatory Visitor Centre. Blackford Hill. 668 8405. Ages 5— I 2. Help build and decorate a lrot air balloon using everyday materials antl watch it float into the air. l’ar/ (if [ft/llll)llI:C'll International St'ient e Festival.

Open Day Fri 16 Sat I7 Apr. l-‘i-t 6—9pm; Sat 2pm & 6pm. Free. Royal Observatory Visitor Centre. Blackford Hill. 668 8405. Discover more about the fascinating astronomical research that goes on behind the scenes at the observatory. Part of lz‘t/i/i/riuje/i Internatimra/ Science [-12in val. Rocketeering Sun 18 Apr. I~—5pm. £10. Royal Observatory Visitor Centre. Blackford Hill. 668 8405. Ages 8+. Build and launch your own rocket. including the parachute recovery system. Part of Edinburgh International Science Festival.

Books

World Book Day Fri 2.3 Apr. Various venues. See Glasgow Books and Book Events. page 95-96.

Exhibition

An Exhibition 0f Children's Art ('irtil Fri 23 Apr. Mort-Thu 10am -8pm; l‘ri 10am—5prrr: Sat 9am-- 1pm. Fine Art Library. George IV Bridge. 225 .5584. An exhibition of children’s art including pastels. paintings. mask puppets. wire sculptures and photographic documentation resulting from art workshops for 5-- l 2 year olds. led by Jenny Smith.

Discovering Japan t'ntil Sun 6 Jun. Mort—Sat 10am—5pm 18pm Tue )1 Sun noon—5pm. Royal Museum ()1' Scotland. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. Hands-on fun at this interactive exhibition which delves into the lifestyles arrtl customs of Japan. Activities include Japanese writing. trying on a kimono. creating a miniature Japanese garden and tasting Japanese food.

. OUTSIDE TIIE CITIES

Activities And Fun

Easter Eggcitement that still 18Apr. 10am—4pm. £2.20 (£1.10); family ticket £5.50. Almond Valley Heritage Centre. Livingston. 01506 414957. Springtime games and crafts. egg painting and bonnet making. plus the chance to meet the new arrivals: lambs. chicks and other baby animals.

Animal Antics Sat 17 Apr. 2 -3pm. l‘ree. Calderglen Country Park. Stratlraverr Road. liast Kilbride. 01355 236644. Ages 8+. A chance to catch up on animal antics sessions vou may have missed.

Prime Views Sat 17 8; Sat 24 Apr.

1 lam-12.30pm tfi 2—<3.30piir: Strri 18 Apr. 2——3.30pm. £3. Dundee - Contemporary Arts. 152 Netlrergate. Dundee. 01382 432000. (Atlantic Telecorn Activity Room). Try your hand at simple photography in this fun workshop based around the current exhibition l’rinre.

Bird Boxes For All Sun 18 Apr. 2 Muir'shiel Centre. (‘Iytle .\Itrirshie1 Regional Park. l.ochwiirrroch. 01505 842803. llelp prepare sale nesting sites for our" feathered friends.

4pm.

Theatre

The Happy Gang's Castle 0f Adventure Sat 17 & Sun 18 Apr. Sat l0.30ain & 2.30pm; Sun 2.30pm. £4 (£2.50); family ticket £12 (£7.50). llowden Park Centre. Livingston. 01506433634. Join the Happy Citing as they look after Professor NincombooP's Castle of Adventure in this fun show for 2-—9-year olds.

The Sooteries With Liana Bridges Sun 18 Apr. 2.30pm 8' 4.30pm. £4.50 (£3). East Kilbride Arts Centre. ()Itl Coach Road. liast Kilbride. ()l355 261000. See photo caption.

Eeyore Has A Birthday Sat 24 Apr. 10.30am. Sir John Wilson Town Hall. Stirling Street. Airdrie. 01698 2675 I 5 and at 2.30pm at Bellshill Cultural Centre. John Street. Bellshill. 01698 267515. £3.50 (£2.50); family ticket £10. Ages 69 Richard Medr‘ington Puppets present the tale of Iicyor'e's birthday.

The International Purves Puppets Biggar Puppet Theatre. Brotrglrton Road. 01899 220631. £4.90 adults: £3.90 children (reductions for parties of over' ten). Shows on offer over the coming fortnight are as follows:

listings KIDS

Pips And Panda And The Magic Egg Thu 15 8' Fri 16, l0.30am; Sat 17.2pm and Fri 23 Apr. l0.30am. A magic egg causes no end of trouble itr Pips and Panda‘s latest escapatle.

Sinbad The Sailor Strn 18 & Wed 21 Apr. 2pm. The magical story of Sinbad The Sailor performed in UV light.

The Nutcracker Thu 22 Apr. 2pm & 7pm. l-Ioffriratin's famous story of fantasy and magic is recreated in this innovative puppet production.

Pips And Panda Meet The Toothfairy Sat 24 Apr. 2pm. Follow the adventures of Pips and Panda as they search for the tooth-fairy.

Nessie Meets Morag Tue 27 & Thu 29. 6.30pm and Wed 28‘ Apr. 8pm. Nessie meets the monster of l.och i‘vlorar in this humorous Scottish folktale.

Exhibition

The Millennium Bug (Ttiiil Sun 2 May. 'l'ue Sat l0.30am 5pm: Sun 2—5pm. Smith Art (iallcry and Museum. l)trrnbar'torr Road. Stirling. 01786 471917. An exhibition of artwork by primary schools children 111 ilre Stirling area.

THE LITTLE RED HEN Ages 3—7. See listings for dates and venues. The

Little Red Hen needs to make a cake for a very special guest but as her friends are of the lazy variety, will she be ready in time? Shona Reppe brings this traditional Scottish tale to life using colourful glove puppets in

two shopping bags.

Puppet Animation Festival

Ulllll Sat l7A/ri: Var/nus I’enaev.

This year's festival is coming to a close. btrt there are still a few remaining performances which are listed below. Tickets can be purchased from the relevant venue. Fora copy of the festival brochure contact the Netherbow Arts Centre. 4345 High Street. Edinburgh. 0131 556 9579.

Performances

PETER THE PIRATE BOY Ages 3 8. A lonely little pirate boy has to be brave in the face of danger as he sayes (Ire creatures of his island 111 this new show from Keirspcckle Puppets.

Netherbow Arts Centre J ~‘ .73 Hie/i .Vtrt't'l. lit/Illltlll'g'll. ll/A'l 5.56 ‘15“! Thu 15 A rr. 1 lam. £3.50 (£2.75).

Pais ey Arts Centre yeti Street. I’mt/ev. ()lJ/ 88.7 /(1/(). Sat 17 Apr. llam (k 1pm. £4 (£21.

THE BOY WHO FLEW TOO HIGH Ages 46- The l-oltling 'l‘hcati'e l’trppet Company tell the story ol Icarus. who suffers at the expense of his father's inventions.

Musselburgh Sports Centre .\'t'ri/>teetlte. .Illtyyt'lltttre/i. (I/.r'/ 0.5." 0367. Thu 15 Apr. 2pm. £3.50 t2.5()r. East Kilbride Arts Centre tilt/ ( mt ll Rot/ll, lfayt ls't/lrr/tlt'. (1/355 fir/()0!)~ Sat 17 Apr'. 2. 30pm. £3 I .5111

BIG AGGIE'S PEARLS Ages % 8, Sylvia Troon's Kt'risirt‘c‘klc‘ l’uppcts present this humorous Scottish fairy tale about Aggie the (irairtess w ho is ill only release ('atr‘iorra li‘orrr lrer' clutches once Jamie has fetched her a string of pearls from the

bottom it Ill.‘ sca. Netherbow Arts Centre 43‘ 45 High Street /' l/alr'ti'c'll ll/A‘l .550 9.579. 771a

/ 5 Apr; j/rrn, : 51/ t [2. 7.51.

Port Seton Centre .y‘mti/i Seton l’tirk, l’ttl‘l Stir/ll. ll 1,37,; 57.2-57.7. IO Apr. 2pm. £3.51) t2.5(li.

THE LITTLE RED HEN Ages 3 7. See photo caption

Netherbow Arts Centre 43 45 Hie/r Street. l'.'./inl>!rreli. (I/.\'/ .556 9579. Fri 16 Apr. Ilam t\' 2pm. £3.50 (£2.75).

THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME Ages ’7 e. \‘ictor Hugo’s classic story of ()trasrrrrmlo is recreated by Hunter Puppet 'l‘lreatre. Illl the help of local primary schools 111 tioryre'lkilry who helped in its production.

St Bride's Centre /a ()I‘H't'll 'Ierrat-e. lftli'Ii/rtt/e/t I//.r'/ \'-l(r /~lt)5. l’iitll Sat I7 Apr. " 30pm (Thu 15 t\' Sat 17 Apr trials. 2 rmi. L3 t£2r

SEA STORIES Ages 5+. A beachcotiiber tells stories from the things he finds on the shore in ('ly tlebtiilt Puppet Theatre's 11t'\\ slltr\\.

Netherbow Arts Centre 43‘ 45 Hie/r .‘l/At'til. /.tl.’ll.’,’.ll“."ll. ll/ “/ 3.2—0 (AD-7‘). Sill Apr. 1 l.11‘il .\' 2pm £3.50 (£2.75).

Workshops

A TASTE OF INDIA latlinbtirglr Puppet Company offer this play-in-a—tlay' workshop .rrrrred at yotrtli cltrbs and groups :tlrrtr it ran aitl areas of l'itlllll‘llly'll. yy hi it pioy rtles an insight into the culture o! the sub-continent. its society. history '- :tl iriytlrology. Moredun Community Wing 5 Iltrr't-.ltt/ii.;/t /':'.t. t'. .Iloret/a/i. lit/tillrtitei: (ll " l 5.50 9.5.79. .1111! 15 Apr. Illaiir lpirr £3 5Ilt£2 75).

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