list.co.uk/kids KIDS
KIDS list.co.uk/kids
HITLIST THE BEST KIDS STUFF
✽ Imaginate A diverse line- up of shows, pushing the
boundaries of where and what good children’s theatre can be. See feature, page 22. Various venues, Edinburgh, Mon 6–Mon 13 May.
✽ Tradfest A celebration of traditional music, storytelling,
song and dance, with lots of interesting events for families, including the Prom on the Prom. See preview, page 70. Various venues, Edinburgh, Wed 24 Apr– Mon 6 May.
✽ Children’s Classic Concerts: Britten and
Beyond Owen & Olly lead a celebration of Benjamin Britten, including his superb Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. See preview, right. Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sat 20 Apr.
✽ The Mark of Zorro The masked hero takes to the
stage in this show from the always watchable Visible Fictions. Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Tue 23–Sat 27 Apr; Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, Wed 1 May; Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Fri 10–Mon 13 May.
✽ RSNO’s Monster Music The Royal Scottish National
Orchestra introduces the multifarious sounds they can make to little ears aged 3–5. Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow, Wed 17–Thu 18 Apr.
✽ Family Storytime Dive inside Rudyard Kipling’s Just So stories, and in particular, How the Camel got his Hump, in this interactive storytelling session for under 7s and their families. Scottish Youth Theatre, Glasgow, Sat 4 & Sun 5 May; Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Sat 11 May.
Events are listed by city, then by type. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to kids@ list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Kirstyn Smith. ✽ Indicates Hitlist entry
GLASGOW Activities & Fun Walking With Dinosaurs Thu 18 & Fri 19 Apr, 7pm. Sat 20 & Sun 21 Apr, 11am, 3pm & 7pm. £25–£45. SECC, Finnieston Quay, 0844 395 4000. The BBC series is brought to spectacular life. FREE Toddler Time Fri 19 & 26 Apr, 3 & 10 May, 11.30am–noon. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Songs, stories and fun with a different theme each week. Suitable for under fives. Play Station Sat 20 & 27 Apr, 4 & 11 May, 11am–noon. £3 per session. Platform, The Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road, Easterhouse, 276 9696. Play session with a focus on making up stories. Ages 5–7. FREE All Aboard Sat 20 Apr, 11am–noon. Riverside Museum, 100 Pointhouse Place, 287 2660. Transport- themed story and activity sessions for younger visitors. FREE Tweetie Time Sat 20 Apr, 11am–noon & 2–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Discover the museum’s avian collection. Suitable for under fives. FREE The Three Rs: Reduce, Rescue and Recycle! Sat 20 Apr, 1–3pm. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Take a look back to WWII to see if you can use the ‘make do and mend’ ethos in your everyday life. FREE Discover! Fitba’ Crazy Sat 20 & Sun 21 Apr, 1.30–4pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Arts and crafts inspired by the beautiful game. FREE The Kids Are Alright Sun 21 & 28 Apr, 5 & 12 May, 12.30–3.30pm. The Grosvenor Café, The Grosvenor Theatre, Ashton Lane, 0845 166 6028. A host of crafts, toys and face painters to keep the little ones busy. FREE Rainforest Life Sun 21 Apr, 1–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Check out some of the feathered friends who live in the rainforests and find out more about why they are in danger. Ages 7+. Skint Knees Drama Classes Saturdays and Sundays 27 Apr–1 Jul, times vary. £110 for full term. Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, 552 3988. Games, improvisation, storytelling, voice and movement for young drama kings and queens. Classes for 3–4 years are 11am on Sat and 12.30pm on Sun; 5–7 years at 12.15pm on Sat and noon on Sun; ages 8–10 at 1.45pm on Sat and Sun. Tiny Twisters Saturdays 27 Apr–29 Jun, 10–10.45am. £55 for full term. Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, 552 3988. Dance classes for tots. Ages 3–4.
FREE Family Friendly Weekend Sat 27 & Sun 28 Apr, 11am–3.30pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Creative workshops for families. Junior Jumpers Saturdays 27 Apr–30 Jun, 11am–noon. £55 for full term. Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, 552 3988. Get your young ones bouncing with weekly dance classes. Ages 5–7. FREE Horrible Headie Tours Sat 27 Apr, 11am–2pm. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. An interactive tour to experience just how bad kids in the olden days had it. Saturday Street Dance Saturdays 27 Apr–30 Jun, 12.30–1.30pm. £55 for full term. Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, 552 3988. Fun and informal dance lessons teaching street styles. Ages 8–14. FREE Oh I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside Sat 27 & Sun 28 Apr, 1–4pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Discover some of the creatures who are lucky enough to live on the beach. Saturday and Sunday SYT Saturdays and Sundays until 30 Jun, 1.15–3.45pm. Sundays until 30 Jun, 2–4pm. £110 for full term. Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, 552 3988. Drama workshops for ages 11–14. Glasgow Kids Comedy Club Sun 5 May, 3pm. £4. The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. That cheeky Bruce Devlin presents comedy for younger fans, particularly those aged 8–12. No under 5s; all kids must be accompanied. FREE Saturday Art Club Sat 11 May, 9.30–11.30am. Gallery of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square, 287 3050. Saturday Art Club Special led by artist Rachel Mimiec, tying in with her exhibition Plough. Ages 3–12.
FAMILY CONCERT CHILDREN’S CLASSIC CONCERTS: BRITTEN AND BEYOND Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sat 20 Apr
Had he not checked out a little prematurely in 1976, Benjamin Britten would have been 100 this year. Birthday celebrations are taking place across the UK, but Children’s Classic Concerts’ Britten and Beyond is the only family event dedicated to one of the most important British composers of the 20th century. Hosted by the irrepressible Owen Gunnell and Oliver Cox (aka Owen
& Olly), and performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the concert will feature The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra as the centrepiece. Composed in 1946, as part of an educational documentary film, it’s one of Britten’s most famous works – and the ideal introduction to classical music for young audiences. ‘I first came across the piece as a student playing percussion in
the orchestra,’ recalls Cox. ‘It works fantastically well because of the quality of the music, which is brilliant throughout, but then when you combine the visual and spoken aspects, it really brings the orchestra to life.’ A lively mix of playing and narration, The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra explores each member of the woodwind, brass, percussion and string sections of the orchestra. But, in an attempt to bring the work more up to date, Gunnell and Cox have re-written the original narration and given it their own stamp.
‘We changed the wording so that audiences today can listen to it
and not feel like they’re in a 1940s classroom,’ explains Cox. ‘It’s less formal and a bit more personal to the musicians in the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.’ Children will have a chance to meet those musicians afterwards and, according to Cox, a party atmosphere will prevail throughout – despite the birthday boy’s lack of attendance.
‘We want our concert to be a celebration,’ says Cox, ‘and to create a real party atmosphere. So we’ll have a range of audience participation, from pass the parcel to synchronised dancing in the aisles, to get everyone in a party mood.’ (Kelly Apter)
18 Apr–16 May 2013 THE LIST 69