The Puppet Animation Festival
Unti/ Sun 30 Apr, Various Venues, Central and Southern Scot/and.
Performances are listed alphabetically by show title and run until the end of this issue (Thu 27 A r). Further listings will be ublished in our next issue out on Thu 27 Apr. In a dition to the shows listed elow, performances take place in venues across central and southern Scotland. For details of shows taking place in your area, contact the Netherbow Arts Centre on 0131 556 9579/2647, or pick up a copy of the festival brochure.
Performances
THE AMAZING MR BONES Ages 4+. A late addition to the Festival, the Amazing Mr Bones brings his special brand of humour to Glasgow. Combining games, songs and audience participation, we meet PC Parrott as he investigates the case of Little Bunny Frou-Frou.
Govan PALS 19 Nethan Street, ()141 334 2000. Fri 21 Apr, 2pm. £2.
BILLY GOATS GRUFF & JACK AND THE BEANSTALK Ages 3—7. One of Scotland‘s most established Puppet companies — Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre - bring two classic fairy tales to life. Using cloth puppets and object animation, the shows are both innovative and
ima inative.
Pais ey Arts Centre New Street, Paisley, 0141 887 1010. Sat 15 Apr, 11am &1pm. £4 (£2).
Netherbow Arts Centre 43—45 High Street, ()131 556 9579. Mon 17Apr,
1 lam & 2pm. £3.50 (£2.75).
THE BRAVE LITTLE ELEPHANT Ages 3—8. Charlie the young elephant isn't very brave and when his friend Minnie falls into the hands of an evil giant, he needs all the courage he can muster to save her. Gila ’s New Stage Theatre Company pay their first visit to the Festival.
The New Town Hall Bron Way, North Carbrain Road, Cumbernauld, 01698 267515. Mon 17Apr, 10am. £3.50 (£2.50); family ticket £10.
Charlotte Toal Centre Dundyvan Road, Coatbridge, 01698 267515. Mon 17 Apr, 2pm. £3.50 (£2.50); family ticket £10. Gilmorehil|G12 9 University Avenue, 0141287 551 1. Wed 19 Apr, 11am. £3.50.
King's Park Pavilion King’s Park, Dalkeith, ()131 663 3445. Thu 20 Apr, 10am. £2.50 (£1.50); family ticket £5. Netherbow Arts Centre 43—45 High
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POOH AND PIGLET NEARLY MEET THE HEFFALUMP Ages S—10. See listings for dates and venues. In the true spirit of A.A. Milne's wonderful stories, Pooh Bear and friends are recreated using soft toy uppetry by Richard
Me rington’s Puppets. The third of Medrington's high acclaimed adaptations, this is a firm family favourite.
Street, 0131 556 9579. Fri 21 Apr, 11am & 2pm. £3.50 (£2.75).
Govan PALS 19 Nethan Street, 0141 334 2000. Sat 22 Apr, 2pm. £2.
CATALINA AND THE WHALE Age 5+. Masters of shadow puppetry, Jack O’ Lantern present a vivid adaptation of the Spanish version of Cinderella. It tells the story of the young and pretty, orphaned Catalina who lives with her brother but her nasty Aunt Arancha is hatching a plot to kill her before the King of Spain learns of her beauty.
Netherbow Arts Centre 43—45 High Street, 0131 556 9579. Tue 18 Apr, 11am & 2pm. £3.50 (£2.75).
CINDERELLA ASHPUTTEL Ages 4—8. Dusty and dirty, having no bed to lie on, only a hearth among the ashes, Cinderella’s name of Ashputtel came about. One of the UK’s leading companies, Banyan Theatre Company, present a clever and stylish reworking of the classic story of Cinderella.
Loch Centre Well Wynd, Tranent, 01875 611081. Mon 17 Apr, 2pm. £2.50 (£1.50).
GilmorehillGIZ 9 University Avenue, 0141 287 5511. Tue 18 Apr. 11am. £3.50. Netherbow Arts Centre 43—45 High Street, 0131 556 9579. Wed 19 Apr, 11am & 2pm. £3.50 (£2.75).
Howden Park Centre Howden, Livingston, 01506 433634. Thu 20 Apr, 10.30am & 1.30pm. £4 (£2.50); family ticket £12 (£7.50).
MacRobert University of Stirling, Stirling, 01786 461081. Fri 21 Apr, 11am. £2.50.
THE LITTLE CIRCUS Ages 5+. A clown with a fear for heights falls in love with the star of the show, a trapeze artist. But will she even notice him and could she ever fall for someone with a big red nose and baggy trousers? Music, humour and songs combine in Edinburgh Puppet Company’s latest delight.
Netherbow Arts Centre 43—45 High Street, 0131 556 9579. Fri 14 Apr, 11am & 2pm. £3.50 (£2.75).
THE LITTLE DRAGON FROM DRAGONLAND Ages 5+. Being bullied at school isn’t much fun so when Scot meets a dragon suffering the same fate as him, they help each other to discover their self-esteem and confidence to face the bullies. A thought-provoking tale of friendship from Pavla’s Puppets. Musselburgh Sports Centre Newbigging, Musselburgh, 0131 653 6367. Sat 15 Apr, 2pm. £2.50 (£1.50). Netherbow Arts Centre 43—45 High Street, 0131 556 9579. Thu 20 Apr, 11am & 2pm. £3.50 (£2.75).
THE LITTLE MERMAID Ages 5—10. Down beneath the waves in the kingdom of the sea, a little mermaid is curious to discover what life is like on dry land. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale, award-winning Storybox Theatre company bring this moving story to life.
GilmorehillGIZ 9 University Avenue, 0141287 5511. Mon 17Apr, 11am. £3.50.
Haddington Corn Exchange Court Street, Iladdington, 01620 827631. Wed 19 Apr, 11am. £2.50 (£1.50). MacRobert University of Stirling, Stirling, 01786 461081. Thu 20 Apr.
1 lam & 2pm. £2.50.
Paisley Arts Centre New Street. Paisley, 0141 887 1010. Sat 22 Apr, 1 lam &1pm. £4 (12).
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THE SINGING RINGING TREE A es 3-7. See listings for dates ad venues. A
noble prince goes on a quest or the magic tree that will win the heart of a vain princess. Through his struggle to show her his feelings, he learns that love cannot be bought and sold but must be earned. Told by a storyteller with hand-carved pup ets, Folding Theatre Puppet Company bring the well-known European olk tale to life.
MARTHA Ages 4+. Meet Martha the obstinate, eccentric old woman who lives by the sea. Self-reliant in her nature, she doesn’t need any friends or family around her until one day, her life begins to change when a seagull lands at her windowsill. A touching story about friendship and trust from children’s theatre company Catherine Wheels. Govan PALS 19 Nethan Street, 0141 334 2000. Mon 24A r, 2 m. £2.
MIDAS GOES F R OLD Ages 5+. The story of greedy King Midas with a unhealthy lust for gold. He demands that everything in his castle is turned to gold including his favourite chocolate. But what about his daughters? Will they be next in the King’s plans? A lively and unique version of the classic tale from Sylvia Troon’s Kenspeekle Puppets. l-Iowden Park Centre Howden, Livingston, ()1506 433634. Sat 15 Apr, 10.30am & 1.30pm. £4 (£2.50); family ticket £12 (£7.50).
Netherbow Arts Centre 43—45 High Street, 0131 556 9579. Sat 22 Apr, 11am & 2pm. £3.50 (£2.75).
PIGS CAN FLY Ages 3—8. Tommy is always dreaming about spaceships, monsters and Martians and he’s always late for school. When he stumbles upon Professor Brainstorm’s magic robot all his dreams come true. But will anyone believe him? Fun and adventure with Kens eckle Puppets.
Mayiield Leisure Centre 10 Mayfield Place, Mayfield, 0131 663 2219. Wed 19 Apr, 10am. £2.50 (£1.50); family ticket £5
Loanhead Leisure Centre George Avenue, boanhead, 0131 440 4516. Wed 19 Apr, 2pm. £2.50 (£1.50); family ticket
£5.
PINOCCHIO Ages 5+. Puppet maker Gepetto creates a wooden puppet boy which to his surprise comes to life. Follow his adventures in Norwich Puppet Theatre’s version of Collodi’s classic tale, in a show which combines the puppetry styles of Bunraku, glove, marionette and shadow.
Girvan Library Montgomerie Street, Girvan, 01292 611222. Thu 13 Apr, 2pm. £3.50 (£2.50).
Prestonpans Community Centre Preston Road, Prestonpans, 01875 813349. Fri 14 Apr. 2pm. £2.50 (£1.50). GilmorehillGIZ 9 University Avenue. ()141 287 5511. Sat 15 Apr. 11am. £3.50. POOH AND PIGLET NEARLY MEET THE HEFFALUMP See photo caption. Queensway Leisure Centre Queensway. Penicuik, 01968 678777. Mon 17 Apr, 10am. £2.50 (£1.50); family ticket £5.
i l I
Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre King George ;
V Park, Bonnyrigg, 0131 663 7579. Mon
17 Apr, 2pm. £2.50 (£1.50); family ticket £5.
Howden Park Centre Howden, Livingston, 01506 433634. Tue 18 Apr, 10.30am & 1.30pm. £4 (£2.50); family ticket £12 (£7.50).
Paisley Arts Centre New Street, Paisley, 01418871010.Wed19Apr,11am & 1pm. £4 (£2).
GilmorehillG12 9 University Avenue, 0141287 5511. Fri 21 Apr, 11am.£3.50. MacRobert University of Stirling, Stirling, 01786 461081. Sat 22 Apr, 1 lam & 2pm. £2.50.
THE SINGING RINGING TREE Ages 3—7. See hoto caption.
Netherbow Arts Centre 43-45 High Street, 0131 556 9579. Sat 15 Apr, 11am & 2pm. £3.50 (£2.75).
Fernhill Community Centre Neilvaig Drive, Fernhill, Rutherglen, 01355 261000. Mon 17 Apr, 11am. £2 (£1). East Kilbride Arts Centre Old Coach Road, East Kilbride, 01355 261000. Mon 17 Apr. 3pm. £4 (£2).
Bellshill Cultural Centre John Street, Bellshill, ()1698 267515. Wed 19 Apr, 10am. £3.50 (£2.50); family ticket £10. Sir John Wilson Town Hall Stirling Street, Airdrie, 01698 267515. Wed 19 Apr, 2pm. £3.50 (£2.50); family ticket £10.
SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS Ages 6+. Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all? Well it’s certainly not the wicked old witch. Glow-in-the-dark, large-scale puppets, magic and music combine in Purves Puppets’ version of this well-loved story. Civic Theatre Content Avenue, Ayr, ()1292 611222. Sat 15 Apr. 2pm. £3.50 (£2.50).
TOM THUMB Age 5+. Meet the tiny little boy who’s so wee he can have a bath in a teacup, go skating across the icing of a cake and get swallowed by a goldfish. Follow the adventures ofTom Thumb as he tries to make it in the big, bad world in Shona Reppe Puppets new adaptation. Netherbow Arts Centre 43—45 High Street, Edinburgh, 0131 556 9579. Thu 13 Apr. 1 lam & 2pm. £3.50 (£2 75). East Kilbride Arts Centre Old Coach Road, East Kilbride, 01355 261000. Sat 15 Apr. 3pm. £4 (£2).
Govan PALS 19 Nethan Street, 0141 334 2000. Sun 23 Apr, 2pm. £2.
Film
Ferngully: The Last Rainforest (U)Thu 13 Apr. 2pm. The l-‘ilmhouse. 88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh. 0131 228 6382. See, Film Index.
Iron Giant (U) Sat 22 & Sun 23 Apr, 2.30pm; Mon 24 Apr. 11am. £1.50. MaeRobert. University of Stirling. Stirling. 01786 461081. See l-‘ilnt Index.
86 THE US! 13-927 Apr 2000