OUTSIDE THE CITIES
Activities And Fun
Easter Eggcitement Until Sun 30 Apr, 10am-5pm. £2.20 (£1.10). Almond Valley Heritage Centre, Millfield, Livingston, 01506 414957. Meet baby lambs, chicks and many other new arrivals on the farm. You can also follow the springtime trail on the hunt for Easter e s and make an Easter bonnet.
A ay In The Park Sun 7 May, noon—5pm. Free. Castlebank Park, Friar’s Lane, Lanark, 01355 806842. A day out for all the family including horticultural displays, children’s entertainers, bouncy castle and rides, stalls, crafts, pip band, plant sale and a dog agility display.
Film
Alice In Wonderland (U) Sun 30 Apr, 2.30pm; Spiderman The Dragon's Cha Ienge (U) Mon 1 May, 2.30pm and The Brave Little Toaster (U) Tue 2 May, 2.30pm. £1.50. MacRobert, University of Stirling, Stirling, 01786 461081. See Film Index.
Theatre
Bike! Sat 29 Apr, 2pm. £3.50 (£2.50); family ticket £10. Adam Smith Theatre, Bennochy Road, Kirkcaldy, 01592 412929. Ages 3+. Join Tutti Frutti on a mission to solve the mystery of the new bicycle bell that doesn’t ring.
Martha Sat 29 Apr, 3pm. £4 (£2). East Kilbride Arts Centre, Old Coach Road, East Kilbride, 01355 261000. Ages 4+. See Tron Theatre, Glasgow.
The Rainbow Forest Mon 1 May, 2pm. £4 (£2). Harbour Arts Centre, 114—1 16 Harbour Street, Irvine, 01294 274059. Lempen Puppet Theatre present a story full of fantasy, magic and adventure set in the amazing world of the rainforest. Bike! Mon l—Tue 2 May, 11am & 2pm. £2.50. MacRobert, University of Stirling, Stirling, 01786 461081. Ages 3+. See Adam Smith.
The Prince And The Pilot Thu 4 May, 1pm & 7pm. £3.50. Cumbernauld Theatre, Kildrum, Cumbernauld, 01236 732887. A new adaptation of Antoine de Saint Exupery’s classic novel Le Peri: Prince is brought to life by Borderline Theatre Company in a magical journey of discovery and friendship.
The Laird's New Kilt Sat 6 May, 11am & 2pm. £2.50. MacRobert, University of Stirling, Stirling, 01786 461081. Ages 5—9. Wee Stories Theatre present a new musical comedy adapted from the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale of The Emperor’s New Clothes.
Go Noah Go! Sat 6 May, 2pm. £3.50 (£2.50); family ticket £10. Adam Smith Theatre, Bennochy Road, Kirkcaldy, 01592 412929. Ages 3—9. Little Angel Theatre presents a new version of the Old Testament story, featuring a cast of thousands of puppet animals.
The International Purves Puppets Biggar Puppet Theatre, Broughton Road, 01899 220631. £5 (£4); family tickets £23 & £36. Book in advance as times are subject to change. Reductions for parties of five or more. Shows on offer over the next two weeks are:
Pips And Panda And The Magic Egg Thu 27 Apr, 11am. A magic egg causes no end of trouble in Pips and Panda’s latest adventure.
Pips And Panda In Circusland Sun 30 Apr, 2pm; Sat 6 & Sun 7 May, 2pm; Wed 10 May, 10.40am. More fun and adventure for Pips and Panda as they end up in Circusland and Cloudland, meeting lots of colourful characters along the way. The Tinderbox Mon 1 May, 2pm; Tue 2 May, 10.40am; Tue 9 May, 10.40am; Wed 10 May, 2.45pm and Thu 11 May, 6pm. The puppeteers re-create one of Hans Christian Andersen’s well loved stories of the soldier boy who goes on a quest to find the tinderbox for the wicked witch. Aladdin Mon 8 May, 12.45pm. Aladdin gets a puppet makeover in Purves Puppets’ unique adaptation.
I
. I listings
SPECIAL EVENTS
Festivals
Maydaze Sun 7 May, 11am-5pm. Free. Glasgow Green, 287 5140. A one day full-on extravaganza for all the family. The day is packed with music, children’s performances and activities, art, sport, play and lots more. Well known faces will include Dave Anderson, Steve Harley, The Happy Gang and the odd clown or two.
Shows
Dive Scotland Sat 6 & Sun 7 May, Sat 9.30am—6pm; Sun 9.30am-5pm. £7 (£2). SECC, Finnieston Quay, 02089 434232. A diving fest with everything the budding diver could ever need or want. See photo caption.
Glasgow Book Fair Fri 5 & Sat 6 May, Fri noon-7pm, Sat 10am—5pm. Mitchell Library, North Street, Scotland’s largest book fair with over 30 dealers coming from across the UK to check out and value your prized books, whether it’s your collection of Oor Wullie cartoons or a first edition book.
3D/ZD Craft 8: Design Fair Sun 7 May, 10.30am—4.30pm. 90p (60p); under 125 free. Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 661 6600. The best contemporary and traditional craftwork on display and sold by the makers themselves.
Talks
New Labour New Millennium? Sat 29 Apr, 9.30am. £25 (£15). Centre for Contemporary History, Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, 331 3253. A day-long conference featuring speakers Pat Thane, Hilary Wainwright and Brian Brivoti.
Max Hastings - Going to the Wars Tue 2 May, 1pm, £3 (£2.50). Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. 287 5511. Now editor of the Evening Standard, Hastings tells tales of courage and cowardice from a lifetime
s ent as a war correspondent.
TII'te Saltire Society Tue 2 May, 7pm. £3. Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 287 5511. The Saltirc Society , in association with The Herald, are hosting this debate on the Scottish Parliament.
Riverside City Wed 3 May, 6pm. Free. The Lighthouse, 11 Mitchell Lane, 221 6362. A lecture from various speakers following the route of the River Clyde and focusing on the Clyde Corridor Regeneration Strategy, the Glasgow Science Centre and a proposed development of the historic Clyde Place Quay sheds.
Words With Wark Tue 9 May, 1pm. £3.50 (£3). Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 287 5511. Kirsty Wark talks about her life as a broadcaster and journalist and discusses her future plans.
Sport
Millennium European Senior Championships Until Sat 29 Apr. Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena, 1445 Argyle Street, 357 2525. European badminton championships which include both team and individual events.
Other Events
Museums & Galleries Month Mon 1 May—Sun 4 Jun, various venues, www.may2000.org.uk or contact your local museum or gallery for details. A month of special activities and exhibitions celebrating the diversity of Scotland’s galleries. Glasgow highlights include a Family Day at the CCA (Mon 1 May, 332 0522) and Fishion, an installation of simulated natural phenomena at the Collins Gallery (13 May—101un, 548 2558).
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ON YOUR DOORSTEP Everything you ever wanted to know about GLASGOW BOTANIC GARDENS
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In a city known as the ’dear green place', Glasgow Botanic Gardens are the prime example of the botanical benefits given to an area blessed with abundant rainfall. Back in 1817 when the Gardens were first established, the wonders of the plant kingdom were generating considerable excitement. The Gardens not only introduced exotic species to the city, they primarily supplied plant material to aid the teaching of medicine and botany at the University of Glasgow. The public's mania for botanical knowledge may have subsided, but the gardens are still committed to research and conservation while providing a superior space to take
'your lunch break in.
The first sight to hit you from the main entrance is the Kibble Palace. This grand Victorian glasshouse was built by engineer John Kibble in 1873 on his estate at Loch Long, then dismantled and brought up the Clyde to its present site. For ten years the Palace was a distinguished meeting place, boasting speakers such as Gladstone and Disraeli, before being revamped into a winter garden with expansive tree ferns which still reach upwards to the dome today. Sadly, the building is currently in desperate need of repair and Glasgow Council is seeking funding to restore it to its former glory.
A short walk from Kibble Palace are the Main Range glasshouses where your senses are in for a treat. Walk in and inhale deeply as orchids, hyacinths, tulips, begonias and many more create a fragrant pharmacy. The 'Economic Collection' is home to some of the most interesting plants, exposing the humble beginnings of many everyday items we take for granted. Investigate the plants which give us coffee, sugar, cotton, patchouli oil and even balsa wood or learn how the papyrus plant was processed by ancient Egyptians to create an early form of paper.
The main gardens provide an enjoyable walk, partly running alongside the River Kelvin, where you might catch a glimpse of some local wildlife. Special activities and events take place throughout the year — the Visitor Centre hosts changing exhibitions, and there are book fairs, tree identification workshops, talks, walks and lots more — but you can go along anytime, whatever the weather, and enjoy the legacy of those 19th century conservationists. (Louisa Pearson)
Fun factor 4/5
Informative 5/5
Value for money 5/5
Added extras Visitor centre; coffee shop.
How do you get there It's a five minute walk along Byres Road from Hillhead Underground.
How much it costs Free.
When it's open Gardens are open 7am—dusk; Main Range Glasshouses and Kibble Palace loam—4.45pm (4.15pm in winter).
I Glasgow Botanic Gardens, 730 Great Western Road, 334 2422.
marks the beginning of summer with local Druid, Chris firmer, performing a ceremony that welcomes this time of year and its changes.
May Day Poetry Flag Mon 1 May, noon. Free. Botanic Gardens, 730 Great Western Road, 353 3876. At noon the Poetry Flag will be raised to the sound of the pipes. But elsewhere hundreds of smaller flags containing people’s favourite words will be tied to trees, so you can wander round and make up your own poem. Words can be in any language style or form and can be on materials such as paper, silk cotton or wool. Send your words in to Gerry
Burns at M&S Thu 27 Apr, 5—6.15pm. Free. Marks & Spencer, Argyle Street, 287 2838. As part of the Burns Festival actor Stewart Ennis and singer/guitarist Alistair Hulett pay tribute to the Bard at the spot where he used to stay in Glasgow.
Burns Collection Sat 29 Apr, 2.30—4.30pm. Free. Mitchell Library, North Street, 287 2838. A guide to the Burns collection presented by Stewart Ennis, with music performed by Bobby Eaglesham. An afternoon of information and history for all Burns enthusiasts. May Day Mon 1 May, 2pm—4pm. £2
(£1). Muirshiel Country Park, Loose at the Botanics. Lochwinnoch. 01505 842803. Also 0 known as Bealteinne, this celebration Continued over page
27 Apr-Ii May 2000 TIIELIST”