Kids
EDINBURGH Activities & Fun Edinburgh Jitsu Youth Sat 23 Oct & Sat 30 Oct, 11am–12.30pm. £5. St Stephen’s Centre, St Stephen Street, Stockbridge, info@edinburghjitsu.com. Weekly classes in this fun and challenging martial art, for ages 11–18. FREE To the Lighthouse! Until Sun 24 Oct, 12.15pm, 1.15pm, 2.15pm & 3.15pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. Drop in and lend a hand with the building of a giant model lighthouse and learn all about their important function. Ages 5+. Get Set for Hallowe’en! Until Fri 22 Oct, 10am–noon. £12 per session. Imagination Workshop, 136 Marchmont Road, 466 0148. Sort yourself out with some spooky props in time for Hallowe’en: it’s dead man’s fingers on Thursday and mummified heads on Friday. Shriek Week Until Sun 24 Oct, 9am–6pm. Most events included in admission. Edinburgh Zoo, Corstorphine Road, 334 9171. Enjoy animal encounters, a rotten quiz, a spooky safari and more. FREE Ultimate Lighthouse: Family Challenge Thu 21 Oct, noon–4pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. Could you build a lighthouse that could withstand our notorious British weather? Try it and see! Whizzing Witches and Scandalous Skeletons Fri 22 Oct, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. £4. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. A chance to make a Hallowe’en costume in the castle kitchen. Booking essential. FREE Lighthouse DIY! Fri 22 Oct, noon–4pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. Design and make your own lighthouse, taking inspiration from some famous examples or just using your imagination. All materials are provided but feel free to bring along any crafty extras. FREE The Big Draw at North Edinburgh Arts Sat 23 Oct, 10am–2.30pm. North Edinburgh Arts Centre, 15a Pennywell Court, 315 2151. Drawing activities for all ages, from under 5s to adults, to celebrate the national Big Draw campaign. There’ll be a graffiti wall, tile painting, henna hand art and much more. FREE Relic: Guardians of the Museum Sat 23 & Sun 24 Oct, 10am–5pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. Complete all the challenges set by dead tour guide Agatha in the museum’s History of the World object trail to be awarded a certificate. Saturday Workshop: Spooky Hallowe’en Puppets Sat 23 Oct, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. £4. Museum of Childhood, 42 High Street, 529 4142. Use dark fabrics and luminous paint to make your own scary Hallowe’en puppet. Booking essential. Ages 5+; aimed at parents and children working together. FREE Lego Activity Day Sat 23 Oct, noon. Waterstone’s West End, 128 Princes Street, 226 2666. See Glasgow, Activities & Fun Hallowe’en Party at Monkey Bizness Fri 29 Oct, 5–7pm. £7 per child (includes one accompanying adult). Monkey Bizness, Fountain Park, Dundee Street, 08458 739645. Spooky games and gory fun at the activities and soft play scramble centre. Creepy Times at Lauriston Sat 30 & Sun 31 Oct, 10am–12.30pm. £5. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. A spooky morning hearing scary stories and having fun with gruesome activities. Booking essential. FREE Pretty Plates Pottery Painting Sat 30 Oct, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate, 529 3963. Decorate your own plate, inspired by the
58 THE LIST 21 Oct–4 Nov 2010
CHILDREN’S THEATRE MAGIC SPAGHETTI Platform, Glasgow, Sat 23 Oct and touring ●●●●●
By the end of Magic Spaghetti you’re left with an overwhelming desire to head for the kitchen and start creating. Or at least the adults in the audience will be – little ones will probably be content with just tucking into the results.
In this regard, Licketyspit absolutely achieves its aim. After an hour of non-stop references to flavoursome spices, freshly ripened vegetables and, of course, spaghetti, you’re ready to stop watching and start eating. Given the diabetes time bomb waiting to go off amongst young people, there’s never been a better time to deliver the healthy eating message in a fun package. Not only that, but to encourage children to try new things and understand where in the world
food comes from.
So far so good, but while the central premise is laudable, and all of the performances strong, Magic Spaghetti doesn’t quite hit the spot like other Licketyspit endeavours. The story itself is simple enough – a small-minded Mayor who likes the food in his town kept plain is finally talked round by a former resident who returns from her travels replete with delicious recipes and a magic spaghetti pot.
Yet there are so many characters, and so much coming and going, younger viewers can struggle to keep up with who’s who. While older ones may miss the absence of humour, which is fairly thin on the ground. That said, the superb set, lively cast and opportunities for audience interaction go a long way to making this an enjoyable theatrical experience. (Kelly Apter)
ceramics collection in the museum. With artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb. Booking essential. FREE Hallowe’en Thrills Sat 30 Oct, 11am–3pm. Seafield Community Recycling Centre, Fillyside Road, 469 5070. Family day at the recycling centre, including mask- making and a timely bit of waste education. Email wasteaction@edinburgh.gov.uk for more info. Air and Scare Hallowe’en Sun 31 Oct, 10am–5pm. Included in admission: £9 (£7; under 12s free). National Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, 247 4238. Calling all witches! Broomsticks are, like, so last century – come along in your scariest costume for a spooky day of activities and see some real flying machines. FREE Hallowe’en Sun 31 Oct, 11am–4pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. The spooks are out to play in this drop-in day of ghoulish fun. Baby Loves Disco Sun 31 Oct, 2–5pm. £8 (non-walking babies free). Corn Exchange, 11 New Market Road, 477 3500. Baby Loves Disco is a chance for kids aged 6 months–7 years (and their parents) to get their respective grooves on, alongside the chance to sample the delights of bubble machines, instruments and a Gymboree chillout zone, with face- painting and healthy snacks included. This event is a special ‘danceathon’ in aid of baby charity Tommy’s. Music Children’s Classic Concerts: Heroes vs Villains Sun 31 Oct, 3pm.
£10 (£6; family ticket £29). Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. See Glasgow, Music and photo caption, page 57.
Theatre & Dance The Adventures of Pinocchio Wed 27–Sat 30 Oct, Wed–Fri 6.30pm; Sat 2pm & 7pm. £5–£27. Festival Theatre, 13/29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. A musical version of the family tale performed by the acclaimed Opera North, including a fantastic opportunity to learn parts of the opera at a family workshop on Fri 29 Oct for just £2 per person. Ages 7+. Storytelling FREE Kamishibai Capers! Sun 24 Oct, 2.30–4pm. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Join Mio Shapley and Fergus McNicol for a fun-filled afternoon of creative capers. Mio and Fergus will have their traditional Japanese bicycle fitted out with their kamishibai theatre to bring you illustrated stories from Japan. Help to tell the story of Momotaro, learn Japanese, and make your own mini theatre and tiny story cards to tell your favourite tale. Part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival. Tiny Tales: Eastern Routes Tue 26 Oct, 10am & 11.30am. £5 per child. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Tales and tunes about the landscapes of Tibet and India with storyteller Claire Hewitt. Ages 3–6. FREE Tell-a-Story Day: Eastern Routes Fri 29 Oct, 2–3.30pm. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Celebrate Tell-a-Story Day at
the Scottish Storytelling Centre with an afternoon of fun, interactive storytelling and storymaking inspired by the Festival’s ‘Eastern Routes’ theme. Led by Wendy Woolfson. Booking essential. Part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival. Saturday Stories Sat 30 Oct, 11am. £5 (£4; family ticket £15). Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, 228 1404. Storytelling from the always entertaining Andy Cannon, from silly to spooky. Ages 5+. Children must be accompanied. East of the Sun, West of the Moon Sat 30 Oct, 11.30am–12.10pm & 2.30–3.10pm. Children £1.50. The Lot, 4–6 Grassmarket, 225 9922. Join Eleanore Wapler and her merry band of storytellers on a journey to faraway places where adventure, mystery and excitement abound. Ages 4+. Part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival. FREE Tales of Plants, People and Places from the East Sun 31 Oct, 2–2.45pm & 3.15–4pm. John Hope Gateway Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, Arboretum Place, 552 7171. The Talking Trees Storytellers share exotic tales based on plant hunting expeditions to East Asia. Ages 5+. Part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival. FREE Local Heroes Sun 31 Oct, 3pm. The Lot, 4–6 Grassmarket, 225 9922. Hear true stories of pioneering Scots who risked life and limb to travel across the globe with the Bible. With storyteller Fiona Stewart. Ages 8+. Booking essential. Part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival.