FESTIVAL
BANK OF SCOTLAND CHILDREN’S INTERNATIONAL
THEATRE FESTIVAL
Various venues
A talking cloud, travelling giraffe, cheeky monkey, dying guinea pig and a teenager addicted to shoes. Just some of the myriad of characters who make up this year’s Bank of Scotland Children’s International Theatre Festival. Featuring thirteen shows from seven nations, the festival caters for little ones as young as one, right up to 16-year-olds.
Whereas most companies baulk at performing to those barely out of the womb, Compagnie Lili Desastres of France have risen to the challenge with Scribble. Aimed at 1-3-year—olds, the show features minimal dialogue, as festival director, Tony Reekie explains: ‘At its heart it’s a clown show, with no real story as such. The character goes through a series of adventures, and it’s a piece of theatre which sends everybody out with a big smile on their face.’
At the other end of the scale lies Shopping For Shoes, by Scotland’s own Visible Fictions. A tale of adolescent love, dog poo and footwear which entertains without patronising - something Fleekie is keen to keep off the agenda. ‘Finding good theatre for older children is difficult because a lot of it tries to teach them a message,’ he says. ‘So I look for something which will provide a thrilling night out, rather than an add-on to their education.’
One of the hotly tipped shows of the festival is a re-working of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Brave 17n Soldier. A show so big and bold, Reekie
had to hire the Assembly Rooms Ballroom to fit it in. ‘I can probably guarantee
that nobody who sees it will have been part of an experience like that before,’
says Reekie cryptically. ‘In a broad sense it’s a big shadow puppetry piece, but
beyond that i can’t say because it would give away the surprise.’ (Kelly Apter)
Events are listed by city, then type. Submit listings at least fourteen days before publication to kldsdllst.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Jules Graham.
Glasgow
Activmes And Fun
Sunday Craft Club Sun l4 8; Sun 2| May. I Iam—Ipm. Free. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre. 200 Woodhead Road. Nitshill. 276 9375. Drop-in craft club with a different theme each week. Ages 5-I2. Kids under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.
Satunhy Art Club Sat I3 May & Sat 20 May. IOam—lpm. Free. Gallery of Modem Art. Royal Exchange Square. 229
58 THE LIST 11-25 May 2006
I996. Fun art activities for children aged 3—10 .
Alice Through the Looking Glass Until Thu 3| Aug. 10am—6pm. Glasgow Science Centre. 50 Pacific Quay. 420 5000. Investigate perception and reality through mind-bending interactive activities.
Acting Up! Drama for Children and
Young People Ages 6—I I on Sat l3 & Sat 20 May. I lam-noon. Ages l2—l8 on
Wed I7 & Wed 24 May. 6.30—8.30pm. £5.
CCA. 350 Sauchiehall Street. 352 4900. Drama workshops led by actor and writer Clare Hemphill. Booking essential.
Chicken Little Challenge Sat I3 May.
noon. Tollcross Park. Wellshot Road. 763 2345. Enjoy an all-American day out at this baseball orientated event. Attractions include a Disney activity zone and
baseball coaching clinics. See baseballsol‘tbalIuk.corii for more into Mask Workshop Sun l4 May.
noon 72pm. £5. Tron Theatre. 63 'I‘rongate. 552 4267. .Make your ow ii iiiask then bring it to life at this art and drama workshop. Ages 9 l3.
Sunday Morning Family Club Sun I4 and 2| May. I0.30aiii noon. £5 (Adults tree). Pollok House. 2060 Pollokshaws Road. 6l6 64I0. Trace your Iamily tree
I I4 May). meet the park's Highland cattle (2| May). Ages 5 I I. Booking required. Bend It Like Benz Sat 20 May.
noon 3.30pm. Free. Mtiseuiii of Transport. Kelvin Hall. I Buriliotise Road. 287 2720. Make giant 3|) vehicles at this tree w eekend workshop.
Apple Blossom Festival Sat 2() ts Sun 2| May. Ilaiii 4pm. Free. (ilasgow Botanic (iardens. 730 (ireat Western Road. 334 2422. Storytelling. cooking and other activities to celebrate the planting ol the first trees in the (ilasgow Children's ()rchard.
Theatre 8. Dance
The Paper Bag Princess Sat I3 May.
2pm. £4.50 (£4). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre. 8 I0 Balcarres Avenue. Kelviiidale. 339 (vlh’5. Pav Ia's Puppets presents this tale oI‘ a Princess and her unlikely encounter with a dragon. Ages 5-79.
The Man who Planted Trees Sat 2()
May. 2pm. £4.50 (£4). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre. S I0 Balcarres Avenue. Kelvindale. 339 6IS5. Puppet State Theatre Co present this timeless tale ol‘ regeneration.
The Chuckle Brothers Sun 2I May. 2pm & 5pm. £I0- £I2. King's Theatre. 297 Bath Street. 240 l l l I. The perennially popular duo take to the stage.
Storytelling
Children's Storytime I7ntil Sun l4 May 8; Until Sun 2| May. 2pm. Free. Borders Books. Fort Retail Park. 390 Provan Walk. 773 29l0. Weekly weekend storytelling session.
Tall Tales at the Tron Sat 2() May. I0am. £2. Tron Theatre. 63 Trongatc. 552 4267. Interactive storytelling session with movement. mime and props. Ages 3 5.
Edinburgh
Activities Arid Fun
Monster Creepy Crawlies I0aiii-5pm; Tue I0aiii 8pm: Stiii noon~5piii. £5 (£3- £4); family ticket £l5. Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street. 247 42l9. Take a larger than me look at the wonderful world oI invertebrates. Drama Group Thu I l. Thu l8 & Thu 25 May. 4.30—6piii. £4 (£2- £2.50). North Edinburgh Arts Centre. l5a Pennywell Court. 3l5 2|5l. Iixplore the exciting world of theatre. Ages l0+.
i Japanese Blossom Festival Sun 14
May. noon «lpm. Free. l.auristoii Castle. 2a Cramond Road South. 529 3963. Celebrate the arrival of spring at this family arts and crafts tillCi’lltXIII in the Castle’s Japanese garden. Booking
essential.
Sunday Science Sun I4 May. noon—4pm. Free. Royal Botanic (larder). lnverleith Row. 552 7I7l. Learn all about plants and biodiversity at this drop-in event for kids and their families.
Street Dance Wed [7 at Wed 24 May. 4.30pm. £4 (£|.50—£2). North Iidinburgh Arts Centre. 15a Pennywell Court. 3I5 2|5l. Weekly hip hop and street styles session. Ages I2— I6 years.
Youth Weekend - Asian Focus Sat I3 8; Sun l4 May. 9aiiir-6pin. £5 (£4). Edinburgh Zoo. Corstorphine Road. 334 9I7 I. Trails. talks and activities I'ocUsing on the animals in the zoo originating from ASILI.
Tiny Music Makers Sat I3 May. l0am.
lIam & noon. £4 (£l.50—£2). North Edinburgh Arts Centre. I5a Pennywell Court. 3I5 2|5l. A fun session of music making. First two workshops are for ages 1—3. the third for ages 3—5.
Big Art Wee Hands Sat l3 .\ 3o Mav. Ill 30am k I 30pm £4 i£l 50 t2) North Iidinburgh Arts Centre. I5a Peniiyw ell Court. 3l5 2I5l Have a go at a range ot visual an iiiedia Ages 3 6
Saturday Fuse Sat I i May. I lam £4 i£l.50 £2) Noitli lidinbuigh Aits Centre. I5a Penny well Court. 3l5 2l5| I'un iiitisic .iiid v istial ait workshop Ioi ages
New Scots Family Day Sat I i May.
2 4pm Free. ticketed National I ibiaiv ol Scotland. (ieoige iv Bridge. 22o 45 a i' (let your hands Iietiiia painted .iiid try your hand at activities including liidiaii Tabla druniiiiiiig .it this day celebtaliiig Illtllllvclllltll'dl Scotland Ages 7+
Drama Tots Tue Io May. It) ,‘ylltllll
Free. North Izdinliurgh Arts Centie. I5a Pennywell Court. il5 2I5I Creative drama session Ioi ages IS months 3 years
Dance Kids Sat 20 May. Illaiii. |Iain t\ |230piii £4 (LT 50 £2) North Izdiiiliiiigli Arts Centre. I5a Pennywell Court. il5 2|5l. (iet your shoes and socks oil and prepare to stamp. slide. itiiiip and leap Illaiii and Ham I 4 years. I2 30pm 3 () years.
First Impressions: Henri Rousseau Sat 20 May. llain ts Ipiii. £4 (£I 50 £2) North Izdiiibtirgli Arts Centre. I5a Pennywell Court. il5 2I5I The art oI lleni‘i Rousseau is inspiration Ioi these workshops forages i (v t I Iaiii) and 7 I2 ( Ipllll.
Moving Sounds Sat 20 May. I Iain a l2.30piii. £4 (£|.50 £2). North Izdinburgh Aits Centre. I5a Pennywell Court. 3I5
2 I 5|. Composer Markus StockhatIscii and clariiiettist Tara Bouiiian conduct an esciting iiiusical esperiineiit
National Gallery Art Cart Sun 21 May. 2 4pm. Free. National Portrait (iallery. I Queen Street. 624 6200. The Art Cart will be loaded with a variety oi art materials and ideas to esploie the collections through Ititi ctalty activities Ages 3 I2.
Storytelling
Talking Trees Stiii 2| May. 2 3pm. Free. Royal Botanic (larder). I:\hibitioii IIaII. lnverleith Row. 557 55SS. Tales oI iiiagic. my stery. trees and travel Ior children ()I till ages.
Bank of Scotland Children's International Theatre Festival
The 23-Mon 29 May. Times and prices vary. Go to imaginate.co.uk for further information. Call 228 1404 for tickets.
Psst! Tue 23 Thu 25 May. I0.l5aiii ty I.|5piii. Prices vary (one adult and one child £I0). 'I‘raversc Theatre. ('aiiihridge Street. 22S I404. A puppet theatre perloriiiance I’eaturing a symphony ol extravagant circus acts. Ages 4 In years. Scribble Tue 23 Thu 25 May |0.l5aiii ck; 2pm. Prices vary (()iie adult and one child £I0). North lidiiibtirgh Arts Centre. I5a Penny well Court. 3l5 2l5| Scribble may be small. but she’s also very clever. Ftiii and laughter Ior ages I 3 years. The Giraffe’s Journey Tue 23 Thu 25 May I0.30aiii ts I2.45piii. Prices vary (one adult and one child £ I0). North Iidinburgh Arts Centre. I5a Penny well Court. 3l5 2|5l. The tall but true tale ()I the lirst giraIIe Ill France. and one man‘s journey to bring the animal hack to its Al'rican roots. Ages 8+.
Shopping for Shoes Tue 23 Thu 25 May. I0.30aiii (also Thu {s Tue 7.30pm. Wed lpin). Prices way (one adult and one child £I0). St Brides Centre. It) ()rwell Terrace. 228 I404. Visible liclions presents Tim ('rouch's touching tale ol an unrequited crush. l‘riendship and shoes.
For ages IIL-l4 years.
Freshmess Triple Bill Tue 23 at Wed 24 May 7pm; Thu I.30prii; Sat I0.30aiii. Prices vary (One adult and one child £I0). Traverse Theatre. Cambridge Street. 228 I404. Freshmess merge hip hop style with
contemporary dance to create a new fun
and accessible I'orm.