Kettle time
‘Time travel is always a very popular theme with children,’ says Singing Kettle’s Artie Trezise. I can’t say I’ve noticed any Stephen Hawking-type tendencies among the very young, although tiny tots really cannot grasp the one-way notion of getting older, and continually question our inability to go back in time. With The Singing Kettle’s brand new show, they can. A time machine takes our threesome from prehistory to the future, meeting fifteen-foot dinosaurs and giant space dogs, and dressing children up as cooks in a World War 11 field kitchen, along the way.
Over twelve years, The Singing Kettle has amassed a large, faithful following. Sixty-one-thousand people piled through Glasgow’s SECC to see the company’s last show, outselling the likes of Cliff Richard and Gary Glitter. So what is the secret of the Kettle’s success? ‘Audience participation,’ says Cilia Fisher. And boy, do they participate. ‘Children dress as time travellers and sing along
to travel through time
to the tunes and shout out the rhymes and riddles,’ she explains.
The parents must like it too. After all, they’re the ones who have to make the cavemen or spacemen outfits. Go to any Singing Kettle show, and you’ll find ’em, needlesore, but clapping their hands and singing along with the worst of the toddlers. (Gabe Stewart) Time Machine is on tour visiting Stirling (8-13 April), Motherweil (15-17 April), Ayr (3-7 May), Glasgow (11-16 July) and Edinburgh (18-23 July). See listings for further details.
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Weekend or holiday childcare is a nightmare. You end up guilt-ridden, and the children suspect they’re being dumped. A unique childminding service now aims to make these ‘difticult’ childcare times ‘fun, educational and stimulating’. Children’s Adventure Tours caters for children aged from five - twelve. It offers various trips, but one of its most popular is to Dirleton Castle. After a 45-minute journey from Waverley Bridge in Edinburgh, the group loosens up with a few games, then explores the Castle, which the children usually have to themselves. Then they dress up and re-enact a banquet with their packed lunches; followed by a quick trip round the dungeons. ‘That usually quietens them down,’ grins CAT Director Judith
Wilson. ‘Most castle guides aren’t geared towards children, but ours dress up, and make sure they get to do lots of hands-on things. They still get all the historical facts, but in a way that’s fun and that they’re more likely to remember.’
Beyond regular weekend tours, CAT organise Science Festival tours, at both Adam llouse and the Science Come (see listings); and regular weekday tours resume in July to cover school holidays (which are ideal for parents to do their thing at the Festival). (Gabe Stewart)
Prices vary from £12.50/£14 for an afternoon trip to fill/£22 for a full six- hour day (with a 20 per cent discount during May and June). Contact Children’s Adventure Tours on 229 9816.
liain or shine, our at-a-giance 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 lflEEflIIIIII
Activities and Fun
I Mugdock Conservation Volunteers Craigend Visitors Centre, Mugdock Country Park, Craigallian Road. near Miingavie. 956 6100. Sats 9 and 16 Apr. 10am—3pm. Free. Come and muck in at Mugdock.
I Hustle of Spring Baron's Haugh RSPB Nature Reserve. Motherweil, 0234 211522. Sat 16 Apr. 10am. £3.75. 8+ years. This reserve is home to over 65 species of breeding birds. Watch and hear the early migrants returning.
Activities and Fun
I Beach exploring and blrdwatchlng Meet (and finish) at the mouth of the River Almond at the end of Cramond Glebe Road. Damion Willcock 556 5856. Sun 17 Apr. lOam—noon. Bring 50p to pay the ferryman to cross the River Almond. Bring wellies to do some rock pool
dipping.
Indoors
Activities and Fun
I Can you draw a duck? Lochwinnoch RPSB Nature Reserve, Refrewshire. 0234 211522. Sat 16 Apr. 10am. £3.75. 5—8 years. Lots of bird art and craft activities. Send applications to Lochwinnoch RSPB Nature Centre. Largs Road. Lochwinnoch. Refrewshire PA12 41F.
EDINBURGH
Activities and Fun
I Hands-0n Plants Schools Activity Area. Exhibition Hall. Royal Botanic Gardens, Arboretum Place. 552 7171 ext 480. Sun 17 Apr. lO.30am—12.30pm. £4 (£2). Living plants and live insects will be used to demonstrate the role of colour as an essential feature in the relationship between insects and plants.
I Clown Stevie St Bride's Centre, 10 Orwell Terrace. 346 1405. Thurs 7 Apr. 7pm. 50p. Magic and fun with Edinburgh’s best loved clown.
I Children's Adventure Tours at the Science Festival Adam House. Chamber Street and Science Dome. West Princes Street Gardens. Bookings on 229 9816. Until Mon 18 Apr. lOam—noon and 2—4pm. £6.50. 5—12 years. See panel.
Cinema
I MGM Film Centre Saturday Matinees Lothian Road. 228 1638. £1.50. Films start at 11am. doors open 10.30am. 9 Apr ET(PG); 16 Apr Toys starring Robin Williams.
I Filmhouse Matinees Lothian Road, 228 2688, £2. Films start at 2.30pm. 9 Apr Sound of Music (U); 16 Apr Franco Zeffereili‘s Romeo and Juliet (U).
I Cartoon Classics St Bride‘s Centre. 10 Orwell Terrace. 346 1405. Fridays 8 and 15 Apr. 1.30pm. 50p. One-and-a-half— hours of big screen animation. suitable for all ages.
Theatre
I Mr Boom St Brides Centre, 10 Orwell Terrace. 346 1405. Fri 8 Apr. 10.30am. £1.
I Mr Cuddles Puppet Show St Bride's Centre. 10 Orwell Terrace. 346 1405. Thurs 14 Apr. 2pm. 50p
OUTSIDE THE CITIES
Theatre
I The Time Machine The Singing Kettle on tour. 2—10 years. See panel. Mothenvell Civic Centre. Motherweil, 0698 267515. Fri 15 Apr. 1.30 and 6.30pm; Sat 16 Apr. 11am and 2.30pm; Sun 17 Apr. 2.30 and 5.30pm. £6. £5 (£5. £4).
MacRoberr Arts Centre. Stirling, 0786 46/08]. Fri 8 Apr 6.30pm; Sat 9 Apr 11am and 2.30pm; Sun 10 and Tue 12 Apr. 2.30 and 6.30pm; Wed 13 Apr. 11am and 2.30pm. £6 (£5).
I Magical Mayhem with Wizard William Bellshill Cultural Centre. John‘s Road. Beilshill. 0698 267515. Sat 9 Apr. 2pm. £1.75. 3—7 years. Tickets for Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre‘s latest show available from either the Advance Booking Office. Motherweil Concert Hall and Theatre. or through any Motherweil District Library.
F T H E A T R E MUSSELIUIOH
SOMETHING FOR CHILDREN
PUDDOCK THE CLOWN
in jOOGLIE WILKIES SATURDAY, 23 APRIL I994 AT 2.00PM
Suitable for children of all ages
VISIBLE FICTIONS
present
PEACEMAKER
by David Holman
SAT, 14 MAY 1994 AT 2.00PM Suitable for 5-8 year olds (pi-p3) TICKETS FOR ALL
PRODUCTIONS: £3.00 (FULL), (2.00 (CONCS)
BRUNTON THEATRE BOX OFFICE 6 6 5 2 2 4 0
031
The List 8—21 April I994§L