.Fanta with Rosie
S
.—_ .1 t Rosie and Jim are coming to town. but if you‘re expecting to see those two ragdoll puppets and John the Boatman. you‘d better stay glued to the television at home. With Rosie and Jim's Big Theatre xii/venture ‘what they see is a specially written piece for theatre.‘ says Anne Wood. founder of Ragdoll Productions. ‘Some children are so alienated from the idea of seeing a performance within four walls. that once or twice last season. some children had to watch the show from the security video screen.‘ Writer/
director Nona Shephard has since modified the show even further to appeal to a younger age group. 3—8 years.
‘We‘re trying to offer something that will delight children while offering something of value educationally.‘ says Wood. former Head of Programming for TVam. ‘l was interested to see if we could use Rosie and Jim as an educational introduction to theatre.‘ As well as tying into national curriculum activities. the accompanying teacher‘s pack helps prepare children ahead of
Z» the show. so they can get the most out
of what is possibly their first visit to a
i. E theatre. This includes a ‘going to the I, r theatre' action rhyme. which
encourages children to ‘hush now and listen/the play is beginning‘ when the
actors come on stage.
Apart from appealing storylines. much
, of the attraction in the TV show is that ; the ragdoll characters keep their 3 goings-on secret from grown-ups: ' ‘empowerment‘ to use the over-used cliche. John the Boatman (the butt of their antics on TV) isn‘t in the theatre show. Instead. in the course oftheir naughty pokings-about in the theatre. the ragdolls cock at snoot at the stage crew and wardrobe people. Whatever you do. don‘t go along expecting to see a houseboat on stage. Rosie and Jim '5‘ Big Theatre Adventure. | K ing 's Theatre. 220 4349.
What Katie
did
Poor Katie is left-out. No one will play with her. All through the seasons, the harder she tries to make friends, the harder it gets. Then, one special day, a fall of snow heralds a new beginning. Katie’s so engrossed in making her pretend friend, she hardly notices that she’s made real friends without even , trying.
The Snowchild is based on its creator’s own experiences. ‘It’s a piece of complete self-indulgence,’ Debi Cliori admits cheerfully. ‘I didn’t really fit in at primary school. It doesn’t take much to be singled out.’ Having a funny surname and looking Italian was enough, and her hairy forearms didn’t help either. ‘I was the only six-year-old user of Immac,’ she laughs. ‘For a year nobody would play with me. My mother would come to the school every playtime, and talk to me through the railings. Then, in P4, an English girl came, and because we were both different, we became best fflendsfi
Glaswegian by birth and now living in
56 The List 23 September—6 October 1994
children’s books mostly depict domestic events, as seen through the eyes of children. In comparison, The Snowchild was a cathartic release of pent-up emotion. ‘The writing was easy,’ she says. ‘The pictures were hellish. I was just so miserable, right up until the point where Katie wakes up after the snow’s fallen.’ Certainly she illustrates with a painful poignancy the implicit message that
I friendship can’t be forced, but has to happen naturally. (Gabe Stewart)
The Snowchild by Debi Cliori published by Frances lincoln, £8.99.
i
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
its? 1
Activities and Fun
I Peace Park Walks Calderglen Country Park. Peace Park. Strathavan Road. East Kilbride. 03552 36644. Sun 25 Sept. 2—3pm. learn about the history of the glen; Wed 28 Sept. 6—7pm. explore the flora and fauna. Free.
I Autumn Tidy Up Holy Family Primary School. Boghead Road. Lenzie. Jackie Gillespie 771 4399. Sat 24 Sept. 10am—2pm. Free. School children are welcome to come and help give the pond. young trees and wildflower areas a tidy up. Don‘t forget your wellies.
I Mighty Oaks from little Acorns Rangers Centre. Pollok Country Park. 20—60 Pollokshaws Road. 632 9299. Sun 25 Sept. 2pm. Follow thejourney ofthe tree seed on its way to the sawmill. in Pollok Park‘s home grown timber woods. I Countryside Creations Craigend Visitors Centre. Mugdock Country Park. Craigallian Road. near Milngavie. 956 6100. Sun 25 Sept. 2—3.30pm. Free. Let your imagination run riot and create natural sculptures.
Activities and Fun
I Wildlife Ramble Yellowcraig—Aberlady. meet at end of road leading down to Yellowcraig at far end of Dirleton Village. finish at wooden bridge. Aberlady. Malcolm Porteous. 447 0539. Sat 24 Sept. 10am—6pm. Free.
I Brambling Bows Fruit and vegetable picking for free. or at a price. Abandoned railways lines or walkways may cost nothing. but what price lost sanity when little ones get caught up in stinging nettles, walk in too plentiful piles of dog dirt. and all the brambles you pick are relegated tojelly-making‘? Perfect for raking in raspberries. picking peas and bingeing on brambles is Lowe‘s Fruit Farm. Campend Farm. Dalkeith. on the A7 near the Sheriffhall roundabout. 660 2128. Pick-your-own prices are brambles 70p lb. raspberries 65p lb. peas 40p lb. potatoes 12p lb. Mon—Fri 9.30am—5.30pm; Sat/Sun 9.30am-5pm. Kids stuff themselves silly or can play in the enclosed swing park. in sight of the seasonal picking area.
Indoors
\
Activities and Fun
I Javanese Percussion Workshops Strathclyde Arts Centre. Washington
Street. 221 4526. Sundays 10.30ain—12.30pm. Free. Come along and bang a gong.
Exhibitions
I Annual Art Competition for Young People Art Gallery and Museum. Kelvingrove. 221 9600. Wed 14 Sept—Sun 23 Oct. daily 10am—5pm. Sun 11am-5pm. Free. This is Glasgow M useum‘s 90th Annual Art Competition. and features work selected from over 3000 entries from young people from Strathclyde and Central Region. Their ages range from five to eighteen. although most are teenagers.
Theatre
I Sleeping Beauty Hopscotch Theatre Company tour their new show. hot on the heels of their successful Bonnie Prince Charlie tour.
Milnarlmrr 'lim'n Hall New Road. ()577 863563. Sat 24 Sept. 1 lam.
Mereat Theatre 31. Hecla Square. Drumchapel. 944 1788. Tue 27 Sept. 1.30pm.
Cinema
I Filmhouse Matinees Lothian Road. 228 2688. £2.20 (£1.50). Films start at 2.30pm. Sat 24 Sept Jurassic Park (PC) in Dolby SR; Sat 1 Oct It's a Marl. Marl. Mad. Marl War/(l (U).
Exhibitions
I Treasure Island National Museum of Scotland. Chambers Street. 225 7534. Until January 1995. Mon—Sat lOam—Spm; Sun noon—5pm. Museum free; RLS exhibition £2 (£1) under fives free. Based on the theme of Robert Louis Stevenson‘s Treasure Island. the exhibition looks at his fascination for islands. It features reconstructions of a period child‘s bedroom. the deck of the Hispanola. and a Pacific Island. plus storytelling at 3pm on Saturdays. More hands-on than exhibitions generally are. it also includes a Black Spot Treasure Hunt.
Theatre
I Rosie and Jim’s Big Theatre Adventure King’s Theatre. Leven Street. 220 4349. Mon 3—Sat 18 Oct. llam. 2.30pm (not Tue). £5.50 (£4.50). 3—8 years. See panel. I Chipperfields Circus lngliston Showground. address. 333 2371. Until Sun 25 Sept. Mon—Fri 4.45pm and 7.30pm; Sat/Sun 2.30pm and 5.30pm. £6—£12 (£5—£10). Old-fashioned traditional circus. complete with tigers.
W
Activities and Fun
I Natural Dyes Strathclyde Country Park Visitor Centre. 366 Hamilton Road. Motherwell. 0698 266 155 ext 131. Sun 25 Sept. 2pm. Free. Discover for yourself the kaleidoscope of nature‘s paint pot by finding out which berries can be used to make dyes.
I Tree Games Rangers Hut. next to Dalzell House. Dalzell Park. Motherwell. 0698 269696. Sun 25 Sept. 2pm. Free. Ever heard a tree‘s heartbeat? Come along and get better acquainted.
I Pond Dipping Golf Driving Range. Strathclyde Country Park. 0698 266155 ext 131. Mon 26 Sept. 2.30pm. Hardly 20.000 leagues. but a chance to delve into the dark depths of the watery underworld nevertheless. Equipment supplied. but bring your own wellies.
Theatre
I Meeting in Dreams: Edinburgh Puppet Company MacRobert Arts Centre. University of Stirling. 0786 461081. Sat 24 Sept. 2.30pm. All tickets £2.50.