Kids 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 Fri 21 Sep, 11.30am–noon. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Songs, stories and fun, suitable for under 3s. FREE I’m a Fish, Get me out of Here! Sat 22 Sep, 1–2.30pm. Glasgow Sculpture Studios, The Whisky Bond, Dawson Street, 07582 698832. Family workshop disguising an important message about how to eat fish sustainably. Parkour Drop-in Workshops Saturdays until 15 Dec, 1.30-3pm (ages 8–11) & 3-5pm (ages 12–18). £4. Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, 0845 330 3501. A chance for youngsters to try out free-running. ARThouse Saturdays, 29 Sep–15 Dec, 10–11.15am (ages 5–8) & 11.30am-1pm (ages 9–12). £75 for full 12 weeks. House for an Art Lover, Bellahouston Park, 10 Dumbreck Road, 353 4776. A 12-week course in hands-on art-making. Ages 5–8 from 10am; ages 9–12 from 11.30am. FREE Wee Wednesdays Wed 3 Oct, 2–4pm. Burrell Collection, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 287 2550. Workshop based on the museum displays. For under 5s and their parents/carers. FREE Drop In & Jam Thu 11–Sat 13 Oct, 6–8.30pm. Platform, The Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road, Easterhouse, 276
9696. Take any instrument you fancy to this musical mash-up. Ages 12–19. Part of Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival. FREE Half Term Fun at Pollok Country Park Sat 13–Thu 18 Oct, 11am–3.30pm. Pollok Country Park, Pollokshaws Road, 276 0924. Autumn crafts for young nature lovers. Let’s Make the Music and Dance Mon 15 Oct–Thu 18 Oct, 9.30am–noon. £24 for the full week. City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. A week of dance, drama and storytelling for ages 7–12. Things that Go Bump in the Night Workshop Mon 15 Oct, 10am. Children £5.50. Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Create a magical glow-in-the-dark puppet. Ages 4+ Junior Sleuths: Murder Mystery Performance Course Mon 15 Oct– Sat 20 Oct, 10am–5pm. £125 in full or two instalments. Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, 552 3988. Drama course focusing on the murder mystery genre. Funky Puppets Workshop Tue 16 Oct, 10am. Children £5.50. The Mackintosh Church, Queen’s Cross, 870 Garscube Road, 946 6600. Create a fun and funky rod puppet. Ages 3+. Part of Creative Mackintosh Festival. Magic Shadow Puppet Workshop Wed 17 Oct, 10am. Children £5.50. Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Design a shadow puppet. Ages 3+. Balloonology Workshop Thu 18 Oct, 10am. Children £5.50. Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Balloon modelling workshop. Ages 3+.
REVIEW FAMILY THEATRE A DREAM ON MIDSUMMER’S NIGHT ●●●●● St Stephen’s Centre, Edinburgh, Thu 20 Sep; Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Thu 4–Sat 6 Oct.
Beautiful though his prose may be, understanding Shakespeare can be hard enough for adults, let alone children. With its romantic comings and goings, A Midsummer Night’s Dream may be one of the bard’s lighter plays, but there’s no denying the language barrier that exists between the 16th and 21st centuries.
So hats off to Wee Stories for even trying to present this tale to young audiences aged 10+. For despite the opening and closing scenes (and a wee bit in the middle) where they use modern English to set the scene, the rest of the play is entirely true to Shakespeare’s original dialogue (give or take an hour or two). Inevitably, whole swathes of text will be lost on younger ears (let’s face it,
some of it is lost to most of us), but the intention, emotion and basic plot is pretty much crystal clear. Achieved largely due to the smart and witty direction of Iain Johnstone, and the clear, expressive performances of the young cast members.
By focusing on the key players, executing some remarkably quickfire costume changes, and using both puppets and actors to play the same character, they manage to reduce a cast of 22 to just four. Modern dress for the young lovers blends with colourful garbs for the fairies, so there’s little chance of confusion, while the decision to use umbrellas to help the small cast seem more than twice its size is just inspired. (Kelly Apter)
HITLIST THE BEST KIDS’ STUFF
Books & Storytelling Family Story Time Sessions Sat 29, Sun 30 Sep & Sat 13, Sun 14 Oct, 10.30–11.10am & 12.30–1.10pm. £5 (family £15). Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, 552 3988. Interactive storytelling sessions for kids under seven. Tall Tales Sat 6 Oct, 10am. £6 per adult + child. Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. Stories with movement, mime and props. Ages 3–5. Tiny Tales Wed 10 Oct & 17 Oct, 10am. £6 per child + adult; £27.50 for full block. Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. Tales and a creative play session. Ages 6 months–2 years.
Music
✽ FREE The Glasgow UNESCO City of Music Underwater
Party Family Fun Day Sat 22 Sep, 10am–5pm. (some activities may incur a small charge). Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. Enjoy a pirate’s treasure hunt, discover new instruments and enjoy a performance from Children’s Classic Concerts with Owen and Olly. Tonic Tinies: Inspiring Musical Adventures! Mondays until 3 Dec, 11–11.45am. £4 (siblings free). Sports Trust, 1 Finlay Drive, Dennistoun, 07983 588675. Music and movement to aid imaginative play. Suitable for ages 18 months–four years. Tonic Tinies: Inspiring Musical Adventures! Wednesday until 5 Dec, 10.30am. £3 (siblings free). Merry- Go-Round, 32–34 Nithsdale Road, Strathbungo, 07983 588675. See above. Music For Early Ears Family Saturday Sat 6 Oct, 2–3.15pm. £4.50 per child (adults & non-participating siblings free). City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. Creative music class. Ages 3–6.
Theatre & Dance Scottish Dance Theatre: What on Earth!? Thu 20 Sep, 1.30pm. £8 (£3.50–£4.50). Platform, The Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road, Easterhouse, 276 9696. Fun contemporary dance aimed specifically at kids aged 5+.
✽ A Dream on Midsummer’s Night Wed 26 Sep, 1.30pm &
7.30pm. £7. Eastwood Park Theatre, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, 577 4970. See review, left. Disney on Ice: A Passport to Adventure Fri 28 Sep, 7pm; Sat 29 Sep & 6 Oct, 10am, 1.45pm & 5.30pm; Sun 30 Sep & 7 Oct, 11am & 2.45pm; Tue 2 Oct–Fri 5 Oct, 6pm. £13–£36. Braehead Arena, Kings Inch Road, 0844 499 1700. Take a sight-seeing holiday with all your Disney friends. Oscar And the Deep Sea Pearl Sat 29 Sep, 2pm & 4pm. Children £5.50. Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. An exciting underwater adventure. Ages 3+.
✽ The Adventures of Butterfly Boy Sat 29 Sep, 4pm. £6. Eastwood
Park Theatre, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, 577 4970. See preview, page 74.
✽ Jason and the Argonauts Wed 3 Oct, 10.30am & 1.30pm. £3.50. Platform, The Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road, Easterhouse, 276 9696. An irreverent take on the ancient Greek myth. Ages 9+. Can’t You Sleep Little Bear & Three Wishes Sat 6 Oct, 2pm. Children £5.50. Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. A pair of fun puppet shows. Ages 3+.
✽ The Adventures of Butterfly Boy Thu 11 Oct, 1pm. £3.50.
Platform, The Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road, Easterhouse, 276 9696. See preview, page 74. The Elves & the Shoemaker Sat 13 Oct, 2pm; Sun 14 Oct, 3pm. Children £5.50. Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue,
The Glasgow UNESCO City of Music Underwater Party Family Fun Day Pull on your most colourful seaside garb (grown-ups, too, apparently) and dive into the Concert Hall’s fun day of activities, featuring music, crafts, storytelling and more. Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sat 22 Sep.
Jason and the Argonauts Visible Fictions’ lively take on the Greek myth, filled with drama, adventure, and some very funny action men. Suitable for ages 9+. Platform, Glasgow, Wed 3 Oct; Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, Tue 9 Oct.
The Adventures of Butterfly Boy A new dance work for children aged five and over, following the story of a young boy who finds a caterpillar and watches it develop into a butterfly. See preview, page 74. Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, Thu 27 Sep; Platform, Glasgow, Thu 11 Oct.
The Ballad of Pondlife McGurk Catherine Wheels’ much-loved play about one boy’s first day at high school, and how he picks up a nickname that sticks. For ages 8+. Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, Sat 22 Sep.
A Dream on Midsummer’s Night Wee Stories take Shakespeare’s original and strip two hours off it, making it clever, accessible and fun. See review, right. Thu 22 Sep, St Stephen’s Centre, Edinburgh; Eastwood Park, Glasgow, Wed 26 Sep; Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Thu 4 & Fri 5 Oct.
The Big Draw: Picassomania! Take part in the nationwide Big Draw event, at this free drop-in workshop for ages 8+. Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh, Sat 6 Oct.
Kelvindale, 339 6185. The fairytale is given a puppet makeover. Ages 3+. Little Red Riding Hood Mon 15 Oct, 2pm. Children £5.50. Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. The classic fairy tale with live musical accompaniment. Ages 3+. Little Red Riding Hood Tue 16 Oct, 2.30–3.30pm. £5.95 (children £4.95). The Mackintosh Church, Queen’s Cross, 870 Garscube Road, 946 6600. See above. Part of Creative Mackintosh Festival. That’s The Way To Do It Wed 17 Oct, 2pm. Children £5.50. Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. A mix of puppetry and magic. Ages 3+. 19 Jul–2 Aug 2012 THE LIST 73