Kids
Events are listed by city, then type. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to kids@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Laura Ennor.
Glasgow Activities and Fun Get Dancing! Boogie Babies & Mini Movers Sat 26 Jun, 12.45–1.30pm. £3.50. Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church, Observatory Road, 552 2442. Movement, story-telling and games with Jayne Middleton. Boogie Babies (ages 0–3) from 11.45am and Mini Movers (ages 3–5) from 12.45pm. Part of the West End Festival. FREE Meeting Mary Sat 26 Jun, 1–3pm. Provand’s Lordship, 3 Castle Street, 553 2557. Get to know Mary Seton, one of Mary Queen of Scots’ ladies in waiting, and try on some 16th-century fashions. FREE We’re Going on a Journey. . . Sat 26 Jun, 1–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, Nitshill, 276 9300. An exciting journey through the museum’s transport and technology collections. Ages 5+. Booking essential. FREE Burrell for Families: Burrell Remade Sat 26 Jun, 10am–5pm. Burrell Collection, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 287 2564. Celebrate Recycling Week by recreating a replica of a museum object from recycled materials. Booking essential. FREE Craft Workshops Sun 27 Jun, Fri 2 Jul & Thu 8 Jul, 1-4pm. Silverburn Shopping Centre, Barrhead Road, 0141 433 9506. Craft activities led by Busy Bees Craft Studios. FREE Family Friendly Sunday Sun 27 Jun, 1–2.30pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, Nitshill, 276 9300. Creative workshops for families inspired by Glasgow Museums’ collections, followed by a tour at 2.30pm (booking essential for tour). Baba Boom Thu 1 & 8 Jul, 9.45am, 10.30am & 11.30am. Six weeks £40. Hamleys Toy Store, St Enoch Centre, St Enoch Square, 227 3040. A weekly music, rhythm and movement class for babies and toddlers. There are three classes: 9.45am (ages 0–1), 10.30am (walkers up to two-and-a-half years), and 11.30am (older pre-schoolers). Summer Academy Mon 5–Sat 31 Jul, times vary. Prices vary. Citizens Theatre, 119 Gorbals Street, 429 0022. Spend the summer learning drama skills with professional drama tutors in a variety of one and two-week courses for different age groups within the 4–16 range. FREE ‘Dig This’ Family Day Tue 6 Jul, 10am–4pm. Hunterian Museum, Gilbert Scott Building, University of Glasgow, 330 4221. Archaeology activities for families, including Pictish stone carving, flour milling, spinning, archaeological investigations and pendant making. FREE Summer Art Rammy Tue 6 Jul–Fri 18 Jul, times vary. Trongate 103, 276 8380. A variety of workshops for different age groups within the 5–16 range, including puppet making, photography, printmaking and an exciting media project. Theatre Family Story Time – The Sword in the Stone Sat 26 & Sun 27 Jun, 10.30am & 12.30pm. £5 (family ticket £25; babies free). Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, 552 3988. Storytelling theatre from Scottish Youth Theatre with actors, lights, props and audience participation. This fortnight’s story is ‘The Sword in the Stone’. Recommended for ages 2–8; families and babies welcome. The Singing Kettle: Calamity Castle Sat 26 & Sun 27 Jun, noon & 3pm. £11 (family ticket £40). City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. A new show from the Singing Kettle about what happens
60 THE LIST 24 Jun–8 Jul 2010
when the accident-prone bunch take over a castle. FREE Will You Be my Guinea Pig? Fri 2 & Sat 3 Jul, Fri 10am; Sat 1pm. Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, 0845 330 3501. A new performance by Katy Wilson, Starcatchers artist in residence at Tramway. Ages 0–4. Books Andy Stanton: Mr Gum and the Cherry Tree Sat 26 Jun, noon. £4. Gilmorehill G12, 29 University Avenue, University of Glasgow, 330 5522. More stories from Andy Stanton about Mr Gum, who hates children, animals and fun. Part of the West End Festival. Mara Menzies: Legend of Magnificent Moon & Toto Tales Sat 26 Jun, 3pm. £4. Gilmorehill G12, 29 University Avenue, University of Glasgow, 330 5522. Lively, colourful African storytelling from Mara Menzies and friends. Ages 3–7 and families. Part of the West End Festival.
Edinburgh Activities and Fun Children’s Activities Fri 25 Jun–Mon 30 Aug, until 30 Jun 10am–5pm, from 1 Jul 10am–6pm. Included in admission: £5.50 (£4.50; family ticket £10-£15). Georgian House, 7 Charlotte Square, 0844 493 2117. Take the kids to see history come alive this summer – at the Georgian House they can write with a quill, try on costumes or handle the collection of objects from the past. Hearts and Roses Sat 26 Jun, 1.30–3.30pm. £4 per adult/child. Museum of Childhood, 42 High Street, 529 3963. Craft workshop for adults and children to take part in together – make a sweet sample in a tiny frame. Booking essential. Introduction to Animation Workshop Sat 26 Jun, 2pm. £10. St John’s Church Hall, Princes Street, 221 2273. Red Kite Animation provides an introduction to claymation, including plastic eyeballs, killer tentacles and evil slugs! Ages 8–12. Part of the Edinburgh International Film Festival. FREE Musical Plants Sun 27 Jun, 1pm & 2.30pm. Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Make your own musical instruments from organic material and try them out in a music making session. FREE What Can You Find at the Seashore? Fri 2 Jul, 1pm. Joppa Rocks, Portobello Promenade, 447 7145. Explore the rock pools. Wellies essential! Ages 5–10. Booking essential. FREE Potty About Plants Sat 3–Tue 6 Jul, 1–4pm. Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Take part in some outdoor experiments à la Darwin, or brighten up a window at home with your own potted plant. Under 16s must be accompanied. Get Set for Summer! Mon 5–Fri 9 Jul, 10am–noon. Full week £75; single day £15. Imagination Workshop, 136 Marchmont Road, 466 0148. A week of workshops based around making things for the holidays, from decorating flip flops to making a photo album. Ages 5+. A Paper Dressing Up Box Mon 5 Jul, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. £4 per adult/child. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Transform yourself into a pirate, princess, knight or dragon using a variety of materials. Booking essential. Summer Youth Theatre Project Mon 5–Fri 16 Jul, 9.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–4.30pm. £70. Southside Community Centre, 117 Nicolson Street, 229 8250. A two-week project covering everything from scene development to prop-making, culminating in a public performance on Fri 16 Jul. Morning sessions are aimed at 13-16 year-olds, afternoons at 10-12 year- olds. Assistance with funding is available. Butterflies and Bees Tue 6 Jul, 2–3.30pm. Children £3. Newhailes, Newhailes Road, Musselburgh, 0844 493 2124. Learn about the amazing minibeast
life of Newhailes, and get crafty making some beautiful bugs to take home. Booking essential. Fantastic Magical Wings Wed 7 Jul, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. £4 per adult/child. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Learn about moths and butterflies, and then choose some wings for yourself and decorate them with colourful mosaic patterns. Booking essential. FREE Pollination Party Wed 7–Tue 13 Jul, 1–4pm. Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Find out how bees, butterflies and moths make the world a better place with pollination. Under 16s must be accompanied. Magic Shows Wed 7–Sat 10 Jul, Wed–Fri 7pm & 8.30pm; Sat 4pm & 5.30pm. £8–£10 (£5–£8; family ticket £20–£25). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Suspend your disbelief for these old-school magic shows for ages 5+, presented by Matthew Dowden and Xavier Mortimer. Part of Edinburgh International Magic Festival. Woodland Vinyl Thu 8 Jul, 9.30am–4.30pm. £40. Jupiter Artland, Bonnington House Steadings, Wilkieston, 257 4170. Workshop for children aged 5 upwards looking at Jim Lambie’s work Zobop Floor. The group will make large
artworks using vinyl tape in response to the work. The cost includes all materials, but bring a packed lunch. Tree Crafts Thu 8 Jul, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. £4 per adult/child. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 336 2060. Use wood to create toys such as boats and cars. Booking essential. Minibeast Magic Thu 8 Jul, 2–3.30pm. Children £3.50; accompanying adults free. Water of Leith Visitor Centre, 24 Lanark Road, 455 7367. Meet some of the Water of Leith’s tiniest residents – the bugs and creepy crawlies hiding under rocks and logs. Suitable for ages 5–12. Booking essential. Theatre and Storytelling Tiny Tales: Parable Fun Tue 29 Jun, 10–10.40am & 11.30am–12.10pm. £4 per child. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. A fun, regular event for tots aged 6 months to three years with storyteller Renita Boyle. The Gruffalo Tue 6 & Wed 7 Jul, Tue 1.30pm & 4pm; Wed 10.30am & 1pm. £14.25. Playhouse, 18–22 Greenside Place, 0844 847 1660. Hugely successful theatre version of Julia Donaldson’s wondeful, clever and colourful book. See preview, below.
PREVIEW THEATRE THE GRUFFALO Edinburgh Playhouse, Tue 6 & Wed 7 Jul
A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood . . . and nine years later, he’s still strolling. When children’s theatre company Tall Stories first hit upon the idea of adapting Julia Donaldson’s picture book, The Gruffalo, they could scarcely have guessed how popular it would become. Opening in Chester in May 2001, the show had fairly humble beginnings.
A set held together by safety pins, and strategic direction that ensured somebody was always off-stage at the start of a song to turn on the music, couldn’t mask the fact that Tall Stories were on to a winner. Touring almost continually since then, The Gruffalo has bared his ‘terrible teeth’ in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai, as well as spells on Broadway and in the West End.
Originally published in 1999, Donaldson’s book was already a firm
favourite with families before Tall Stories got hold of it. Looking back, what were they hoping to achieve? ‘With such a great story to start with, we had a lot to live up to,’ recalls the company’s joint artistic director, Olivia Jacobs. ‘We wanted to look after it and tell it well, but also breathe new life into it. So we used our imagination, tried to stay faithful to Julia’s story and make it work for all ages.’ One of the show’s key elements, and completely unique to the stage
version, are the infectiously catchy songs, which audiences find themselves singing long after they’ve left the theatre. ‘We created songs that would entertain both the older and younger folk,’ says Jacobs, ‘as well as bringing further life to the characters in a way that perhaps couldn’t be done in the picture book.’ (Kelly Apter)