Going hyper
' If your children already have their
pencils sharpened to write their list for Santa. get them to think about what they are going to buy for their friends 3 and family this Christmas. The perfect ' place for granny gifts at pocket money prices is the Charities Hyperrnarket at ; the Assembly Rooms. Edinburgh.
' Over sixteen years this event has accumulated a huge following of arts and crafts fans. The Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council (125 years old this year) is responsible for this three-day jamboree. ‘We have 90 charititable organisations taking pan,’ says EVOC‘s Director Alan Rees. That means an average of 70 stalls each day selling Christmas gifts and cards. second-hand toys. clothing. home- baking and much more.
The Assembly Rooms has wheelchair and buggy access by lift, but with over 4000 people coming through the doors each day. Rees adds that they ‘can get busy at peak times’. lfthe thought of waiting for lifts with hot, harrassed kids in tow seems not very parent-friendly. fear not. The WRVS (bless 'em) operates a creche for under-fives each day 10am—4pm (10am—3pm on Sat). The restaurant offers further sanctuary from the fray.
The bottom line is that as well as
doing yourself and the kids a favour by
cracking the Christmas shopping list early, the charities concerned should
net a total of up to £48,000. ‘On
average each raises between £500 and £600. which is not an enormous amount. because most stalls are only selling small items. but,’ he hints. ‘they make more money on raffles and tombolas.’ (Gabe Stewart)
Charities Hypermarket. Assembly Rooms. George Street. Edinburgh. 220 4348. Thurs 18—Sut 20 Nov.
1 Own-5pm. Free entry.
Panto Ioons
Contemporary shows loan the majority
oi what’s on otier tor kids this Christmas. But you can’t keep a good tradition down. Yes it’s that time ot year when men turn into old women, women into young boys, and grown- ups into iour-year-olds.
For Grant Stott, presenter at Wemyss Bay 902101, nick Whittington at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow, is a pantomime debut. Compared to the day job, Stott says: ‘It’s the most bizarre thing I’ve ever done.’ Sure, it’s a challenge and all that, but ultimately, says Stott, ‘pantomlme is just a laugh, pure iun’.
However tor old hand Allan Stewart, starring as olck, it’s a bit more than that. Ilow in his tenth panto, he’s learnt not to patronise kids. ‘They’re much too hip these days. I treat them as adults.’ Which isn’t saying much when the parents are booing and hissing louder than their cool-dude oitspring. Amidst all this ‘tun’ there must be a down-side? ‘oolng a llew
Allan Stewart
when you’ve got the mother or all
l hangovers. (Gabe Stewart)
5 Dick Whittington, King’s Theatre, Bath 1 Street. 227 5511/237 5522 (party
5 bookings). Thurs 2 Dec-29 Jan 1994.
! Mon-Sat 7pm; also 2.15pm on various ! days. 24-210 (trom £3). For tull
i listings of other iorthcoming
Year’s Day show at 2pm,’ says Stewart pantomimes and children’s shows see
glumly. Aye, slapping thighs isnae tun
j Theatre section.
Rain or shine, our at-a-glance guide will see you through. Events are listed under outdoors or indoors columns, and then divided by city. Kids listings compiled by Gabe Stewart.
Outdoors
\‘/
8&9 ~
Activities and Fun
I Tree Planting Elder Park. Govan. contact Scottish Conservation Projects Trust. 429 2112. Thurs 25 Nov. 10.30—10.5()am for ceremonies; 1pm for launch of Tree Wardett Scheme;
1.15—3pm for serious tree-planting. Free. As part of the launch of National Tree Week. children from three schools will get stuck into planting 450 trees. Come along and help.
I Junior Nature Club Mugdock Country Park. M ugdock Moles Resource Room. 956 6100. Sun 28 Nov. l—4pm. Free. 8—13 years. J oin the copse cops for some tree planting as part of National Tree Week.
Activities and Fun
I Scottish Launch of National Tree Week Safeway superstore. South Gyle. contact Rita Crowe. 0786 479697. Thurs 25 Nov. 2.15pm. Free. Footballer John Robertson of Hearts will kick the campaign off to a 3 good start. by planting one of 250 trees i with the aid of ten children from local schools.
I Guided Walk Baws Inch Wildlife Reserve. Duddingston. contact Margaret Jones. 313 4143. Sun 28 Nov. 2pm. Free. Meet at the Reserve Gate on Duddingston Road West.
I Tree Planting Bonaly Country Park. off Bonaly Road. above Colinton Village. contact Alison Mathieson. 445 3383. Sun 28 Nov. l()am—3pm. Free. Children are welcome to help plant a tree. then go exploring in the country park. Tools are provided.
I Tree Dressing Wester Hailes. Craigmillar. Princess Margaret Rose Hospital. Colittton. Tollcross Primary School. Leith. Corstorphine. contact Arts ()utreach Team. 529 4875. Sat/Sun 4/5 Dec. Various tintes. Free. Several trees
\
across lidinburgh will be decorated and lit as part of the annual cross-cultural festival i of tree dressing. Activities include
musical processions. mosaic-making attd story-telling. I
Indoors
Activities and Fun
I Photographic Christmas Card
Workshop Street Level Gallery and Workshop. 279-281 High Street. 552 2151. Sat 27 Nov. lO.30am—1pm. £6 (includes all materials). 11—16 years. Each person will get a chance to make at least live cards by making their own black and white photographic prints on a Christmas theme. decorating them with paints and glitter. and mounting them on card.
Exhibitions
I Discovering Scotland Scotland Street School Museum. 225 Scotland Street (opposite Shields Road Underground). 429 1202. Until Sun 9 Jan 1994. Mon—Sat lOam—5pm; Sun 2—5pm. Free. You can see. feel. hear and taste in this hands-on exhibition. Under l()s must be accompanied by an adult. For safety reasons. under 6s are not allowed in the exhibition. Open to the public at weekends; booked school parties only on weekdays.
Theatre
I iloddy Theatre Royal. Hope Street. 332 9000. Box Office Mon—Sat l()am—6pm. Performance Tue 30 Nov—Sat 4 Dec. 1.30pm Mon-Sat plus various 1().30am/5pm/6.30pm performances. £3.50—£10.5() (£2 off top prices for concessions). Family ticket two adults full price. two children half price. 3+ years. Noddy. Big Ears and Mr Plod iii a musical adaptation. presented by the same crew who staged Roald Dahl‘s BFG and The Witches.
EDINBURGH Activities and Fun
I Charities liypennarket Assembly Rooms. George Street. 220 4348. Thurs 18—Sat 20 Nov. 10am—5pm. Free entry. See panel.
I My Dog, My Friend Competition Edinburgh City Libraries invite primary school children to either draw/paint a picture. or write a story/poem about their ideal dog. Winners of the two categories (Primary 1—3/4-7) will receive a £5 book token or a case of dogfood for Fido's Christmas. Submit finished work to local libraries by Tue 30 Nov. including name. address and age.
Cinema
I MGM Film Centre Saturday Matinees Lothian Road. 228 1638. £1.50. Films start at 11am. doors open 10.30am. 20 Nov Honey, I Shrunk the K ids (U); 27 Nov Batman (PG) starring Adam West. I Filmhouse Saturday Matinees Lothian Road. 228 2688. £2. Films start at 2.30pm. 20 Nov Royal Ballet's Yitles of Beatrix“ Potter (U); 27 Nov Bambi (U).
Theatre
! I Joy to the World - The Puppet f Mysteries Netherbow Theatre. 43-45 High Street. 556 9579. Fri 26 Nov—Fri 24
Dec. Fridays and Saturdays only. Fri 2.30pm; Sat Ham/2.30pm. £2.75 (£1.75). 3+ years. Ian Turbitt’s Puppet Theatre presents a musical Christmas Story complete with shepherds. kings. parents and Baby.
OUTSIDE THE CITIES
Activities and Fun
I Santa Special Steam Trips Bo‘ness & Kinneil Railway. Bo‘ness. Postal bookings to The Santa Booking Officer. Scottish Railway Preservation Society Railtours. 99 Greenbank Road. Edinburgh. Enquiries (7—9pm only) 031 441 1374/041 779 2899. Trips Sat 27 Nov—Sun 19 Dec. Sets/Suns only. Trains depart Bo‘ness Station
Ham/12. 15/1 .45/3pm. £4.50 (£3.50). During the seven mile round steam trip. Santa presean each child with a gift. while adults enjoy complimentary seasonal refreshments.
68 The List 19 November-2 December 1993