Kids

HITLIST THE BEST KIDS’ STUFF

Events are listed by city, then type. Submit listings at least 16 days before publication to kids@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Laura Ennor. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry

GLASGOW Activities & Fun FREE Toddler Time Fridays, 11.30–11.55am & 2.30–2.55pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Take the wee ones along for songs, stories and fun with a different theme inspired by the museum each week. No need to book. Little Explorers Fridays, 1–1.50pm. £5 per session. War Memorial Hall, 1 Balmuildy Road, Bishopbriggs, thecreationstation.co.uk. Arts and crafts sessions for tots aged 1–5. On Fri 23 Sep the session expands to take in older brothers and sisters (up to age 11) during the holidays. FREE Saturday Art Club Saturdays, 10.30am–12.30pm. Gallery of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square, 287 3050. Art activities relating to the art on display with drawing, collage, sculpture-making and games. Ages 3-11. FREE Archaeology Uncovered Sat 24 Sep, 11am–1pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, Nitshill, 276 9300. A chance for families and children aged 7+ to handle some real archaeological finds. Booking essential.

✽✽ FREE Danny Macaskill Demo Sat 24 Sep, 11am–7pm. Riverside

Museum, 100 Pointhouse Place, 287 2660. See the super Scottish stunt biker do his thing, plus freestyle skateboarding and parkour. There are also stunt workshops and a skateboard ramp for kids. Parkour Saturdays, 24 Sep–17 Dec, 1.30–3pm & 3–5pm. £4 per session. Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, 0845 330 3501. Scotland’s only youth-focused parkour course. Ages 8–11 from 1.30pm and 12–18 from 3pm. FREE Get into the ‘Grove Sun 25 Sep, 1–4pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Monthly activities for teens aged 12–17. September’s session is on animation. FREE Family Friendly Sunday Sun 25 Sep, 1–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, Nitshill, 276 9300. Creative workshops for families inspired by Glasgow Museums’ collections, plus short, family- friendly tours at 1pm and 2pm. FREE September Weekend Fun Mon 26 Sep, 10am–5pm. The Tall Ship at Riverside, 150 Pointhouse Place, 222 2513. All aboard for an afternoon of bank holiday fun, with living history volunteers, the mouse hunt, Captain’s Challenge, face painting (£2) and the Tall Ship’s own cartoon. Little Explorers Mondays, 11–11.50am. £5 per session. Cairns Church, 11 Buchanan Street, Milngavie, thecreationstation.co.uk. See above. Holiday sessions on Mon 26 Sep & 17 Oct. Handmade Arts Tuesdays until 13 Dec, 4–5.45pm. £6 per child; two children £10. Tapa Coffeehouse, 721 Pollokshaws Road, 07588 571306. Messy clothes essential for this after-school craft club for ages 7–14. Crafty Tots Wednesdays until 14 Dec, 10.30–11.30am. £3 per child; two children £5. Tapa Coffeehouse, 721 Pollokshaws Road, 07588 571 306. A craft group for pre-school children to explore different colours, textures and shapes. FREE Tots at Scotland Street Fri 30 Sep, 11–11.45am. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Interactive play session for ages 2–4 and parents. FREE RSPB Weekend: The Big Draw Sat 1 & Sun 2 Oct, 11am–1pm & 2–4.30pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. As part of the nationwide Big Draw campaign the

Numberjacks At last, every pre-schoolers’ favourite arithmetic programme makes it onto the stage. What adventures will the plucky numbers get up to this time, and will that tricksy Spooky Spoon get in the way . . .? Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Mon 10 & Tue 11 Oct.

Kes Catherine Wheels presents this new adaptation of the well-loved book and film, in which a young boy finds his life changed when he takes care of a kestrel. See review, page 104. Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Thu 29 Sep–Sat 1 Oct.

Arthur, the Story of a King Wee Stories uses its inimitable storytelling skills and wit to tell the tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. See review at list.co.uk. Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Thu 22–Sat 24 Sep; macrobert, Stirling, Fri 30 Sep & Sat 1 Oct; Platform, Glasgow, Thu 13 Oct.

Danny Macaskill Demo As if the new Riverside Museum wasn’t striking enough, stunt biker Macaskill and some skateboarding and parkour aficionados turn up to leave you even more awestruck. Riverside Museum, Glasgow, Sat 24 Sep.

Family Fun Music Day Two superb concerts and an interactive feast of musical activities at this (mostly) free family fun day. See preview. Royal Concert Hall and City Halls, Glasgow, Sat 24 Sep.

Volcano Fun Day Clamber up Edinburgh’s most imposing natural feature and learn all about its fascinating history in this free family activity day. Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, Sat 8 Oct.

How the Koala Learnt to Hug Steven Lee and his People’s Theatre Company adapt Lee’s own storybook about the importance of family and a warm, squeezy hug. macrobert, Stirling, Tue 11 Oct; Platform, Glasgow, Wed 12 Oct; Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, Tue 18 Oct.

72 THE LIST 22 Sep–20 Oct 2011

PREVIEW MUSIC EVENT FAMILY FUN MUSIC DAY Royal Concert Hall and City Halls, Glasgow, Sat 24 Sep

Mission Impossible-style light beams that play musical notes as you cross them, a giant labyrinth of music and light, and a dark room filled with scary sounds hardly business as usual at Glasgow’s City Halls. Organised by Svend Brown, director of music at Glasgow Life, the Family Fun Music Day aims to introduce younger audiences to the wonders of live music. ‘If you go to classical music, jazz or Celtic concerts, a lot of the

audiences are older,’ says Brown, ‘and there are good reasons for that, because many buildings are not that child-friendly and concerts are on at funny times for kids, so there are lots of barriers to experiencing live music. With councils cutting their school music budgets, it’s becoming even more important that people putting on concerts think about how to give kids a taste of it on their own terms.’

That ‘taste’ will include lots of opportunities to both watch and

participate in a range of musical styles. At the City Halls you’ll also find sixteen young composers playing new work inspired by outer space, a ‘Chill Bar’ where musicians have created their own version of the music from 2001: A Space Odyssey, and the world premiere of MAN HIGH, a music and film piece based on Joseph Kittinger’s epic mission to test astronaut equipment by jumping out of a balloon at 102,800 ft. Meanwhile, over at the Royal Concert Hall, infectiously enthusiastic

duo Owen and Olly will be hosting Children’s Classic Concerts’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Orchestra with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra followed by a free family samba workshop in the foyer.

One of the most remarkable things about the Family Fun Music Day is that, aside from Owen and Olly’s concert and MAN HIGH, it won’t cost you a penny. ‘This is the first time we’ve tried this, and it was important to get rid of as many barriers as possible,’ says Brown. ‘I think parents, more than kids, need to be persuaded to come to this kind of thing, because they’ve got a lot on their plate. But if we can get parents thinking yes, this is exciting, beneficial and fun, we can really start building a case for doing more of this kind of work.’ (Kelly Apter)

RSPB will be helping families create nature-inspired artworks. FREE Hands-On Sunday Sun 2 Oct, 1–3pm. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Games, art and interactive fun for families. 3, 2, 1 Lift Off Thu 6 Oct, 10am–2pm. £7.95 per adult + child. Glasgow Science Centre, 50 Pacific Quay, 420 5000. Launch Ratty to the stars and explore light and shadows. Suitable for ages 3–5 years. FREE Build a Birch Broom Harry Potter Style Fri 14 Oct, 1.30–3.30pm. Mugdock Country Park, Craigallion Road, Milngavie, 956 6100. How else are you going to become Quidditch World Champion? Puppet Stew Sat 15 Oct, 11am–3pm. £2. Mugdock Country Park, Craigallion Road, Milngavie, 956 6100. Join Puppet Stew for a funky puppet making workshop for all ages and abilities. FREE Autumn Crafts Sat 15–Thu 20 Oct, 11am–3.30pm. Pollok Country Park, Pollokshaws Road, 276 0924. Daily craft activities in the park for autumn half term. FREE Discover! Paper Portraits Sat 15 Oct, 11am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm, Sun 16 Oct, 1–4pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Have a look at some famous artists’ portraits, then create your own. Ages 5+.

Bulb Planting For Families Tue 18 Oct, 10am–noon. Thu 20 Oct, 2–4pm. £2 (per pot). Mugdock Country Park, Craigallion Road, Milngavie, 956 6100. Make your mark on Mugdock by planting your own bulbs, then come back in spring to see them in full bloom. FREE Simple Pleasures Workshop 4 Child’s Play Wed 19 Oct, 1.30–3.30pm. Linn Park, Simshill Road, 276 0931. This half-term session offers a chance for families to get back to nature with fun outdoor activities and games. Places limited, early booking recommended. FREE Mugdock Wood Adventures No Parents Required! Thu 20 Oct, 10am–noon & 2–4pm. Mugdock Country Park, Craigallion Road, Milngavie, 956 6100. Adventurous activities in the woods for kids aged 8–12. Booking essential.

Music ✽✽ Unesco City of Music Family Day Sat 24 Sep, 10am–8pm. Prices

vary (most activities free). City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. See preview.

✽✽ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Orchestra Sat 24 Sep, 11am. £5.

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. See preview.

✽✽ Space Music and Film Double Bill Sat 24 Sep, 3pm & 7.30pm.