EXHIBITION THE GREATEST FAIRYTALE
City Art Centre, Edinburgh, Wed 1 Feb-Sun 23 Apr
A delusional leader in his birthday suit, an unattractive duck and a princess with an overly sensitive back. Just three of the characters carved on the childhood memories of most of us by one Hans Christian Andersen. The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Ugly Duckling and The Princess and the Pea are among over 200 fairytales penned by the prolific author during his chequered life. Many of them form the basis for The Greatest Fairytale: The Amazing Life and Story of Hans Christian Andersen, a new interactive exhibition headed for Edinburgh this month.
Designed by prestigious New York exhibition specialists, Ralph Appelbaum Associates, the display opened in Copenhagen last year to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Andersen’s birth. A fascinating journey through his life, from small town childhood to literary fame, this will be the largest collection of Andersen artefacts ever to leave Denmark. Born in 1805, the son of a shoemaker and washerwoman, Andersen worked as a largely unsuccessful singer, actor, novelist and poet before finding his niche as a fairytale writer. Often autobiographical in parts, stories such as The Ugly Duckling mirrored Andersen’s own awkward integration into Copenhagen society, as this new exhibition shows.
The dramatised voice of Andersen himself will guide visitors through the gallery, while media-based installations allow children of all ages to get involved. In particular the ‘Fairy Tale Factory’ will encourage everyone to plunder their imagination in search of a story. With Edinburgh the exhibition’s only UK date, this is quite a coup for the gallery, as executive member for sport, culture and leisure, Ricky Henderson says: ‘The City Art Centre is delighted to be hosting the first leg of the exhibition’s world tour, and it is especially fitting given Edinburgh’s recent designation as UNESCO
World City of Literature.’ (Kelly Apter)
Events are listed by city, then type. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to kidsOllst.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Morag Bruce.
ActIVItIes & Fun
Acting Up! Drama for Children and Young People Sat 2| Jan & Sat 28 Jan. I lam—noon; also Wed 25 Jan & Wed 1 Feb. 6.30—8.30pm. £5. CCA. 350 Sauchiehall Street. 352 4900. Drama workshop led by actor and writer Clare Hemphill. It‘s a chance to have fun and build self-esteem. Sat class for 6—l 1 years. Wed class for l2—18 years. Booking essential.
Leaving No Traces Sat 2l Jan. noon. 2pm & 4pm. Free with entry fee. Glasgow Science Centre. 50 Pacific Quay. 420 5000. An interactive presentation by children‘s forensic crime writer. Malcolm Rose. Find out how to look for clues at the scene of a crime and leam about DNA fingerprinting. Talll Tales Sat 28 Jan. l0am. £2 (admits one adult and one child). Tron Theatre. 63 Trongate. 552 6657. ()n the last Saturday of each month a new Tall Tale is created using storytelling. movement. mime. props. costume and percussion. These fun interactive storytelling sessions are suitable for 3—5-year-olds and their parents.
Theatre & Dance
The Magical Adventures of Aladdin Until Sat 28 Jan (not Mon), Times vary.
£l l.50—£15. Pavilion Theatre. 12l Renf'ield
Street. 332 I846. Traditional panto still
going strong long after Christmas.
The Witch, the Wizard and Little
Red Riding Hood Sat 2] Jan. 2pm. £4.50 (£4). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre. 8—l0 Balcarres Avenue. Kelvindale. 339 6185. Talking Heads puppets tells the tale
of Little Red Riding Hood. who bttmps into
Halitosis the Witch on her way to visit
Granny Smith.
f Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre. 8 It) : tale. told alongside the Three Iii/Iv (imils
~ Storytelling
The Frog Prince and other stories Sat 28 Jan. 2pm & 3.45pm. £4.50 (£4).
Balcarres Avenue. Kelvindale. 339 6l85. .loin Kidglove puppets for this well-loved
(irufl and Goldilocks.
Children’s Storytime Sun 22 Jan 8; Still 29 Jan. 2pm. Free. Borders Books. Fort
Retail Park. 390 l’rovan Walk. 773 29l0.
Weekly weekend storytelling session.
‘ Z fl
n Tiny Music Makers Sat 2| Jan. l()arn & llam. £4 (£|.50--£2). North lidinburgh Arts Centre. 1521 Pennywell Court. 315 2l5l. A fun session of music making involving games. puppets. rhymes and movement in music. l'il'sl Workshop for kids aged 1 3. second for 3 5 years.
Big Art Wee Hands Sal 2| Jan. l0.3(lam
& l.30pm. £4 (£1.50 £2). North lidinhurgh Arts Centre. l5a l’cnnyys ell Court. 3l5 2l5l. Painting. sculpture. installation and digital photography. Morning workshops for 7+ years. afternoon for 3 6 years. Dance Kids Sat 28 Jan. l0am. l larii is 12.30pm. £4 I£l.50 £2). North lidinhurgh Arts Centre. 15a l’ennywell Court. 3l5
2 l 5 l. Prepare to stamp. slide. jump arid leap at this fun dance class. 10am and
l lam: l~4 years. l.30pm: 3 6 years. Explore the Eureka! Moment l'ntil Mon 27 Mar. Mon Sat 10am 5pm; Stni noon 5pm; Tue l0am 8pm. Free. Royal Museum Science Zone. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219/4422. Solve puzzles and compose your own piece of music. [deal for kids aged 3 l2 and their families.
Saturday Art Club: Wavelling with
Turner Sat 21 Jan & Sat 28 Jan. mam—noon & 1.30 3.30pm. £4()(£l0). National Gallery of Scotland. The Mound. 624 6560. This workshop led by artist. Andrew Mackenzie explores drawing and
watercolour techniques. Call to hook iii
advance or at the Western Link information
i desk. Ages 5 ll.
Saturday Studio: Contemporary Art Sat 2| Jan 8.: Sat 28 Jan. 1.30 4.30pm. £40
(£l0). Dean Gallery. 73 Belford Road. 624 6560. Installation artist Juliana Capes leads
this workshop inspired by the artists who represented Scotland at the Venice Biennale. Call to book in advance or at the Western Link information desk. Ages 5 l I. National Gallery Art Cart Sun 22 Jan.
; 2—4pm. Free. Royal Scottish Academy. The Mound. 225 667]. Royal Scottish Academy
Building. The Art Can will be loaded with
a variety of art materials and ideas to f explore the collections through ftiti crafty
activities. Ages 3 12.
Junior Viking Training School Sun 22 Jan. l2.45pm. l.45pm & 2.45pm. Free. Royal Museum l-lawthomden Court. 2 Chambers Street. 247 42 l9/4422. Give yourself a Viking name. learnt the mine alphabet. tell Viking sagas and get a certificate signed by chief Viking god. ()din.
RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch Sun 29 Jan. l2 3pm. Holyrood Park. 652 8l50. Join the rangers and people throughout Britain to find otit about the fascinating world of birds.
Exhibition
The Greatest Fairy Tale: The Amazing Life and Story of Hans Christian Andersen Wed l Feb-23 Apr. Mon to Sat l()am»~-5pm; Sun noon—5pm. £5 (£3.50); Family ticket £|2.50. City Art Centre. 2 Market Street. 529 3993. The only UK venue for this
Spending a day out with the kids needn't cost you your wallet as well as your sanity. The following venues in Glasgow and Edinburgh offer FREE entry and a whole lot of fun.
E3 People’s Palace and Winter Gardens Glasgow Green, 271 2962. The newly revamped Winter Gardens are a great way to see some greenery when the weather's awful.
B] The Museum of Transport Bunhouse Road. Glasgow, 287 2720. Old trams. buses. trains and cars. a recreation of an old Glasgow street and a kids‘ activity trail around the museum.
El Scotland Street School Museum 225 Scotland Street. Glasgow. 287 0500. Designed by Mackintosh. there are themed classrooms from different eras and. for a small fee. you can dress up and ‘go back to school wrth Miss Baxter'.
[1‘ Royal Museum/Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh. 247 4422. Stuffed animals. wee beasties. two cafes and the history of Scotland from Pictish man to washing machines. Enough to keep them occupied for hours.
Is Gorgie Farm Gorgie Road. Edinburgh. 337 4202 A genuine farmyard in the city. with pigs. horses. chickens and goats. plus a cafe. play park and petting centre. [2 Museum of Childhood High Street. Edinburgh, 529 4142. Especially good for little ones. with toys to play with in every room of this nostalgic gallery. Perfect for rainy days.
major interactive exhibition. charting the life and work of influential children's author. Hans Christian Andersen. Sec preview.
Storytelling
Doodles and Tales Still 29 Jan. 2 4pm. Free. National Gallery of Scotland. The Mound. 624 6200. Royal Scottish Academy Building. Join storyteller .ltidy Paterson and artist Juliana Capes for lots of ftiti activities. bringing modern paintings and sculptures to life. Ages 5 9.
19 Jan—2 Feb 2006 THE LIST 55