Events are listed by city, then type. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to kidselist.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Morag Bruce.
Activities & Fun
Dnop-ln Drama for Kids Sat 3 Dec & Sat 10 Dec. l lam noon. £4. (CA. 350 Sauchiehall Street. 352 4900. Stimulating session of theatrical fun.
Sunday Craft Club l'ntil Sun IS Dec. 1 lam lpm. Free. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre. 200 Woodhead Road. Nitshill. 276 9375. Drop-in craft club with a different theme each week. Ages 5 l2. Nanotechnology t'niil Sat .3 l)cc. l0am—6pm. Glasgow Science ('cntre. 50 Pacific Quay. 420 5000. lisplore making. measuring and manipulating tiny inventions developed using nanotechnology.
Mission to Mars t'ntil Sat 3 Dee. 10am-6pm. Glasgow Science ('entre. 50 Pacific Quay. 420 5000. Sign up for a mission to Mars. an online activity that lets yott explore a whole new world. (’all to book.
Darren Shan Mon 5 Dec & Tue 5 Dec. 4pm. Free. \‘t'aterstone’s. I28 Princes Street. 226 2666. The popular children's horror and fantasy author signs copies of chilling new novel [)(‘IIIUII 'I'Iii'el'.
Julia Donaldson Sat It) Dec. 3pm. Free. Borders Books. Fort Retail Park, 390 Provan Walk. 773 2‘)|0. 'I'lii' Gratin/u creator signs copies of her popular children's titles.
Glasgow on Ice t'ntil Sat 24 Dec.
Sun Thu 10am I0pm; Fri/Sat
10am 1 lpm. £5 £7.50 (£4 £5). George Square. 564 4234. Get the (‘hristmas spirit down on George Square at this popular open air ice rink.
Windows in Winter Sun I 1 Dec. 2pm. People's Palace & Winter Gardens. Glasgow Green. 27] 295 l. Drop-in workshop inspired by Avril Paton‘s painting. ‘Windows in the West' which is on display at the People's Palace. Suitable for all ages.
Pantotastic Workshops Sim l I Dec. 2.30--3.30pm. £3 (£2). Tron Theatre. 63 Trongatc. 552 4267. The Tron team reveal the secret of a good panto in this fun workshop for 5 l0 year olds. Christmas Science Party Tue I3 l)ec. 6.30—9.30pm. £9.95. Glasgow Science Centre. 50 Pacific Quay. 420 5000. Party games. live science shows and a special visit from the man in red and white.
MUSIC
Children’s Classic Concerts: Christmas Classics Sat 3 Dec. Ipm & 3pm. £9.50. Royal (‘oncett Hall. 2 Sauchiehall Street. 353 8000. (‘arol singers. ballet dancers and plenty of audience participation. Limited tickets still available.
East Dumbartonshire Christmas Gala Concert 2005 Mon l2 l)ec. 7.30pm. £6. Royal (‘oncert Hall. 2 Sauchiehall Street. 353 8000. With the East Dumbanonshire Secondary Schools ()rchestra. Primary Schools ('hoit‘. Meadowburn Primary School Gaelic t'nit and pupils from Merkland School.
Theatre & Dance
A Pocket Full of Puppets: Christmas Show Sat 3 Dec. 2pm (& 3.45pm. £4.50 (£3.50). Scottish .‘ylask & Puppet Theatre (‘entre. X It) Balcarres Avenue. Kelvindale, 33‘) 6l85. Join Aileen Finlay and her special story dress on a journey tilled with w intery tales. naughty elves. a tiny baker and a wee Christmas mouse.
Histoires de Becs Fri 9 Dec. 6—7.30pm. Free. Alliance Francaise de Glasgow. 3 Park (‘ircus. 33‘) 42SI. Bilingual theatre for children iwrformed by Zele. Limited places.
Pop Along Christmas Tales Sat It) Dec. 2pm. £4.50 (£3.50). Scottish Mask
& Puppet ’l'hcati'e ('ctttre. S It) Balcarres Avenue. Kcly indalc. 33‘) 6IS5. (‘hristmas tales front Poppy's Puppets.
The Happy Gang in Santa’s Christmas Party ‘l'hii l5 is Fri 16 Dec. Thu Fri l0.l5am t'l'hu mat l.l5pin. Fri mat 2.30pm). £7.50. Sl{(‘(‘. Fiiinieston Qtiay. 0870 040 4000. See pt'c\ iew.
Storytelling
Children’s Storytime Sun 4 Dec ts t'ntil Sun I 1 Dec. 2pm. Free. Borders Books. Fort Retail Park. 300 l’i'oyan \Vitlis. 77.5 29“). Weekly weekend storytelling session.
Andrew Wolffe l'i'i ‘) Dec. l0.30am. Free. Borders BookS. l'lot‘t Retail Park. 300 Prosan \Valk. 773 2‘)l0. The best- selling author introduces and reads lrom the latest instalment of his Rory stories. Rorv (HIl/ ltis (‘liriylmuy Surprise.
Activities & Fun
Come to Your Senses t‘niil Fri 2 Dec. l0am 5pm. Free. Royal Mtiseiim Science Zone. 2 ('hambers Street. 247 421‘). Get your eyes. nose. ears and fingertips ready to tind out how good your senses are. Tiny Music Makers Sat 3 Dec. Sai l0am & llam. £4 i£l.50 £2). North lidinhurgh .’\rts ('entt'c. l5a l’enny w ell ('ourt. 3l5 2l5 I. .-\ fun session of music making inyolying games. puppets. rhymes and mo\ement to music. l'irst workshop for ages I 3. the second for 3 5 years. Big Art Wee Hands Sat 3 Dec. Sat 10.30am ik l.30pm. £4 i£l.50 £2). .\'orth lidinburgh .-\rts ('entre. l5a Penny well ('ourt. 3l5 2l5l. time a go at a range of \isual art media. Morning session for 7+ years. afternoon for 3 6 years.
First Impressions: Children’s Book Illustration Sat 3 Dec is Sat It) the
l 2.30pm. £4 i£l.50 £2). .\'oit|i lidinbiirgh .v\rts ('entrc. l5a l’enny well (‘ourt. 3l5 2l5l. look at illustrators as artists and create work inspired by ltllllilittl‘ children's hunks. .'\f—'cs T+. DJing Workshop Sat 3 l)ec k Sat 10 Dec. lptn. £4 i£l.50 £2). \oi‘th lidinburgh .-\rts ('entrc. l5a l’cnny w ell (‘otirt. 3l5 2l5l. .»\n introduction to the skills of DJing. Ages 12 +
Dance Kids Sat It) l)ec. Sat l0ain.
I lam it l2.30pm. £4 i£l.50 £2). North lidinhurgh Arts (‘entre. l5a Penny well (‘ourt. 3l5 2l5l. Get your shoes and socks oil and prepare to stamp. slide.
jump and leap. Want and l Iain: l 4
years. l.30pm: 3 6 years.
Meet the Ancestors t'niil Sun 4 Dec. Sat llam 3pm; Sun noon 3pm. £5 £l-t family ticket t£4). (ieorgian House. 7 ('hai'lottc Square. 226 33IS. Meet the original inhabitants of the Georgian House. Booking aily isahle.
Santa’s Grotto l'ntil Sun IS l)ec. 10.30am l2.30pin ik l.30 3.30pm. £3. Royal Botanic Garden ilishibition llall ). lishibition llall. linerlcith Row. 552
7l7 l. Meet (it'eet) Santa as part of the Magical Green (’hristmas l‘estiyal. Christmas Craft for Families Sun 4 Dec it Sun It the l0am 5pm. Royal Botanic Garden lishibition llall. lnverleith Row. 243 2074. .Ioin the Garden Rangers for craft and ('hristmas decoration making sessions.
RazzIe Dazzle Sat 3 Dec.
|0.30am l2.30pm iy l.30 3.30pm. £4. l.atti'iston ('astle. 2a ('i‘amond Road Sotith. 336 2060. Make l'cstiye decorations in preparation for (‘hristmas in the cosy castle kitchen. Pie-booking essential.
Family Day Out Sat 3 Dec. I lam Ipm. £5 i£3). Royal l.y cetim 'l'healre. Grindlay Street. 24S 4S4S. :\ day of family fun to celebrate the opening olfl ('liriymiiis ('um/. including storytelling. lace-painting. lainin drama workshops. ('hristinas card making and theatre ghost hunts.
Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book Sat 3 Dec. 1 lam. £4 i£l.50 £2). North lidinbtirgh Arts ('entre. |5a l’enny well ('ottl't. .3 l 5 2l5 l. ('/tiII‘/ii' (Tm/t ‘y I‘ill'Hll/‘llt’ Hunk is Julia Donaldson‘s latest
l;\i3i i'. (it a“ THE HAPPY GANG IN SANTA’S CHRISTMAS PARTY
Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Mon 12 & Sat 24 Dec; SECC, Glasgow, Thu 15—Sat 17 Dec
Kiddie entertainment can be a cutthroat business. Tickets to sell, merchandise to shift and rivals to outperform. For years, the Happy Gang and the Singing Kettle have been the Celtic and Rangers of children’s sing- a-long theatre. But times have changed since the Happy Gang first leapt onto the stage back in 1995, as Alan Penman (AKA Mr P) recently discovered. ‘When we started we were aiming at kids aged nine and under,’ he says. ‘But now it’s more seven and under because by the time they get to that age they want something a bit more cool. One dad told me recently that his son didn’t want to come and see us any more because
he’s now into Slipknot.‘
Which is just one of the reasons why Mr P, Spatz and Nicky have decided to call it a day. After a decade of performing action songs in over-sized costumes and daft wigs, Santa '5 Christmas Party will be the Happy Gang’s final tour. All three have other irons in the fire — Nicky is a member of singing trio, the Swing Cats, while Mr P and Spatz have been commissioned to direct a pre-school show for Scottish Opera. But with Scotland’s toddler fraternity still queuing up to see them, why stop now?
‘You start to ask yourself how much longer can I carry on dressing up as Bruce the Kung Fu Kangaroo?’ says Penman. ‘We’ve had such a good laugh and it’s been terrific fun, but things have to move on and we’d rather
go while we’re still fresh.’ (Kelly Apter)
book. .loiii her to dramatise the story and join in the action. .-\ges 6+.
Make an Egyptian Sketchbook Sun 4 [)cc. 1 4pm. (‘ity .v\rt (‘entre. 2 \larket Street. 52‘) 3003. Find ohiects in the museum. draw them. then transler it to a huge mural.
Paint Your Own Tree Decorations Tue 6 Dec ik 'lue l3 Dec. 4 6pm. £0. Doodles (‘eramic Workshop. 2‘) \larchniont ('rescenl. 22‘) 130‘). l’aint some cool pottery decorations for your tree which you can take home on the day. litmlslllg‘ titl\ lSillilt‘.
Lighting the Lamps Sun I I l)cc. 3pm.
£6 (£4; children under I2 £2.) (‘oliimcille
('enti'c. 2 \eyybattlc Terrace. 556 05“). .'\ti\c‘lll stttl’ics Mums and pncttts hit the whole family. in aid of the new ()i'\\ ell l’lace .'\rts and (rails ('cntrc. .v\gcs 5+. Explore the Eureka! Moment Thu t5 Dec the 2S .\lar. |0am 5pm; Siiii/.\lon noon 5pm; 'l’iie l0am Spm. l‘ree. Royal .\liiseiim Science /one. 2 (‘liambers Street. 247-1210. Drop in eyent to liiid out how you can hay e bright ideas. solye pii//les and compose your own piece of music. .v\ges 3 I2
MLiSiC
Children’s Classic Concerts: Christmas Classics Sun 1 Dec. lpiii & 3pm. £9.50. l'sher Hall. I othian Road. 223 I l55. See Glasgow listing.
Theatre & Dance
Movement and Shadows: The Magic of Sharmanka Theatre lit 2 Dec Sun l5 .lan. \lon Sun 10am 5pm i'l'ue \\'ed l0am Spin); Sun..\lon
noon 5pm. £4 i£3). Royal \liisetim \lam Hall. 2 ('hamhers Street. 245-1210. Kinetic sculptures performing tales ot funny and tragic tales to haunting music and synchronised light. Booking .idy isahle. Pastoralki Sun -1 Dec. 6.30pm. L'" i£5 i. Ro\y .\rt House. 2 Ro\hiii'gh l’lacc. (LS—7| "50 007". ’l‘i'aditional l’olish natiyity play.
Stowtelling
Green Christmas Storytelling Sun 4 Dec tk Silt) ll l)ec. 2pm. Free. Royal Botanic Garden. l".\hibition llall. lnyerleith Row. 552 "I" I. Join Talking 'l'rces lt)!‘ ( ‘ltt'islltltts litiL‘S lt‘ deling and llL‘klt‘ yttlll' ell—Isl] Citl'S.
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