AUTHOR INTERVIEW DAVID CUNNINGHAM
Move over Harry Potter, there’s a new kid in town. The spectacle-wearing teenager may have dominated children’s bookshelves of late, but a young prince named Marcus is about to give him a run for their money. The brainchild of Ayrshire-born author, David Cunningham, CIoudWorId is a riveting romp for ages ten and over. Over-protected since birth, Marcus longs for life outside his palace home, set high upon a citadel above the clouds. When his father fails to return from a state visit, Marcus leads a search party to look for him, discovering a whole new world beneath the
clouds and the harsh reality of real life.
Rich with descriptive text, CloudWorId is Cunningham’s debut novel. But while the land he invented is pure fantasy, the inspiration behind it was
very real.
‘My home in Troon overlooked the water and i spent a lot of time as a slightly dreamy teenager looking out at the sky,’ says Cunningham. ‘And of course you get phenomenal sunsets there. So I used to take lots of long walks along the beach, and some of it must have come from there.’
Part adventure story. part rite of passage, CIoudWorId also has a sensitive side. Not least because Marcus has to deal with the loss of his father - something Cunningham also faced at a young age. ‘Obviously the events in CIoudWorId aren’t autobiographical, but I think a lot of the emotions are,’ says he says. “Marcus is quite isolated and naive in the beginning, but the painful experiences he goes through in the world beneath the clouds make him more mature.’ (Kelly Apter)
I CloudWorId is out now, published by Faber.
Events are listed by city, then type. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to kldsGllstcomk. Listings are compiled by Morag Bruce.
Glasgow
Activmes & Fun
Acting Up! Sat l8 Feb & Sat 25 Feb.
l lam—noon. Also Wed 22 Feb. 6.30-8.30pm. £5. CCA. 350 Sauchiehall Street. 352 4900. Drama workshop led by actor and writer Clare Hemphill. Sat workshop for 6-H years. Wed for l2—l8 years. Booking essential.
Sunday Craft Club Sun l9 8; Sun 26 Feb. l lam—lpm. Free. Glasgow Museums
60 THE LIST 16 Feb—2 Mar 2006
Resource Centre. 200 Woodhead Road. Nitshill. 276 9375. Dropdn craft club with a different theme each week. Ages 5—l2. Kids under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.
Saturday Art Club Sat l8 & Sat 25 Feb. l0am—lpm. Free. Gallery of Modem Art. Queen Street. 229 1996. Fun art activities for children aged 3—l() relating to art on display with drawing. collage. sculpture making and games.
Sunday Morning Family Club Sun l9 Feb. l0.30am—noon. £5 per child. free for adults. Pollok House. Pollok Country Park. 2060 Pollokshaws‘ Road. 616 64l0. Join in a fun moming of dressing up in Victorian costume. Ages 5—1 I. Booking required.
Victorian Day Sun I” Feb. noon 5pm. £3 (£l—-£2). Pollok HoUse. l’ollok Country Park. 2060 Pollokshttw s Roatl. (ilh ()4 l0. Victorian games and fun.
Chef’s Special Sat 25 S Sun 2b Feb. l0am. lprn & 4pm. £3. (ilasgow School of Art. Rt‘lili‘t‘“ Street. 35" .5000 See photo caption.
Sunday Morning Family Club Sun 2o Feb. l0.30am—~ntxin. £5 per child. free for adults. Pollok House Stables. l’ollok Country" Park. 2060 l’ollokshaws Road. bib 64“). Visit the friendly animals and leam all about nature. Ages 5 l I. Booking required.
Music Making Tracks Live! Mon 27 Feb.
8000. A fun. interactive concert for 7 l2- year-olds. performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and presented by CBB("s Angellica Bell.
Theatre & Dance
George's Marvellous Medicine l'ntil Sat l8 Feb. Thu» Fri It).30am (Thu mat l.30pm); Fri/Sat 7pm (Sat mat 2.30pm). £l3 (£8); family ticket £35. Theatre Royal. 2S2 Hope Street. 332 9000. Birmingham Stage Company bring to life Roald Dahl's tale of (ieorge and his ingenious potion.
Yum and Yuk Sat l8 Feb. 2pm (Y 3.45pm. £4.50 (£4). Scottish Mask 6% Puppet Theatre Centre. S-ll) Balcarres Aventre. Kelvindale. 33‘) 605. Sokobauno Theatre present the topsy turvy' tale of two Indians and their search for friendship.
Out of the Frying Pan Into the Fire Sat 25 Feb. 2pm. £4.50 (£4). Scottish Mask & Puppet Theatre Centre. S l0 Balcarres Avenue. Kelvindale. 33‘) (ilS5. Fact and legend meet when the gigantic Boulder-Man appears. intending to cook his dinner on a nearby volcano.
Storytelling
Children’s Storytime Sun l‘) & Sun 26 Feb. 2pm. Free. Borders Books. Fort Retail Park. 390 l’rovan Walk. 77.3 2‘)l0. Weekly weekend storytelling session.
Tall Tales in the Tower Sat 25 Feb. 10am. £2 per child. Tron Theatre. ()3 Trongate. 552 4267. Fun interactive storytelling sessions in the 'l‘ron's Clock Tower for ages 3 -5.
Edinburgh
Activities & Fun
Explore the Eureka! Moment t'niil Mon 27 Mar. Mon & WediSat l0am—5pm; Tue ItiarriA-Xprn; Sun l2—5pm. Free. Royal Museum Science Zone. 2 Chambers Street. 247 42 If). Drop-in event where you can solve puzzles and compose your own music. Ages 3—l2 and their families.
Meet Kirsty and her Animal Friends Until Thu 23 Feb. 23pm. Free. Royal Museum Bird Hall. 2 Chambers Street. 247 421‘). Meet liinstein Owl and his tortoise. dragon. frog and snail friends. The Greatest Fairy Tale: The Amazing Life and Story of Hans Christian Andersen Until Sat 22 Apr. Mon—Sun l0am—5pm; Sat/Sun noon-5pm. £5 (£3.50): family ticket £l2.50. City Art Centre. 2 Market Street. 529 3993. A wonderful look at the life of this prolific storyteller. with interactive exhibits on four floors. Highly recommended. particularly if your child likes arts and crafts.
Funky Dance Wed 22 Feb & Wed l Mar. Wed 4.30—6pm & b.30—xpm. £3 (£1.50). North Edinburgh Arts Centre. l5a Pennywell Court. 3l5 215l. Learn different dance styles in a relaxed atmosphere. The first workshop is for ages 6+. the second is for 12+.
Drama Group Thu to Feb. Thu 23 Feb & Thu 2 Mar. 4.30—6pm. £3 (£l.5()). North Edinburgh Arts Centre. l5a Pennywell Court. 315 2l5l. Get on stage and explore the exciting world of theatre with a professional drama teacher. Ages
l H.
Tiny Music Makers Sat IS Feb. l0am. Ilam & noon £4 i£l 50 £2) North lidmburgh .-\rts Centre. l5a l’enny well Court. 3l5 2l5l -\ fun session of music making inyoly mg games. puppets. rhymes and movement to music The first “olksliop is for kltls .lgt‘tl l “. lllt‘ \t‘colltl for 3 5 years
DJing Workshop Sai IS Feb .s Sat 25 Feb. l0altt. £4 i£l 50 £2) North lidmburgh .-\rts Centre. l5a l’ennyw ell Court. 3l5 2l5l -\n mtrmltiction to the skills of l)Jrng Ages l2+
National Gallery Art Cart Sun It) Feb. 2 4pm Free National (ialler'y of Scotland. The Mound. 024 (r200 Royal Scottish Academy Biiildirig The .-\rt Cart will be loaded with .i variety of art materials and ideas to explore the collections through fun crafty activities Ach 3 l2 Monster Creepy Crawlies t'niil Sat 27 .May. Mon .\ Wed Sat l0am 5pm. 'l‘ue l0am Spin. Sun l2 5pm £51 £3 £4). family ticket £l5 Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street. 247 42 l‘’ Take a larger than life look at the wonderful world of my ertebrates, Come face to face with monstroust large bugs and human-si/ed beasties. up to 400 times their acttial si/e Creepy Crawly Crafts and Encounters Sat lls' Feb is Sat 25 Feb. 10am 4.30pm. Free. Royal Miiseum Main Hall. 2 Chambers Street. 247 42W. Crafts. storytelling. hye encounters and other creepy crawa activities to coincide with the museum's monster birg exhibition. Ages 3+.
Dance Kids Sat 25 Feb. Sat l0am. l lam & l2.30pm. £4 (£l.50 £2).Nor1lt lidinburgh Arts Centre. l5a l’enny well Cotirt. 3l5 2l5l. Stamp. slide. ramp and leap. l0am and Ham: l 4 years. l30pm: 3 () years.
Big Art Wee Hands Sat 25 Feb. 10.30am it I30pm. £4 (£l.50 £2). North lidinburgh Arts Centre. l5a l’ennyw ell Court. 3l5 2l5 1. “me a go at a range of visual art media including painting. sculpture. installation and digital photography. Morning workshops 7+ years; afternoon 3 (i years.
First Impressions: Manga and Anime Sat IS Feb. I lam & lpm. £4 (£l.50 £2). North lidiriburgh Arts Centre. l5a l’ennywell Court. 3l5 2l5l. Watch some Japanese animation then create your own ‘cels'. Morning workshop 3 (i years; afternixin 7 l2 years.
Covenanters Sun I‘) Feb. l2.45pm. l.45pm & 2.45pm. Free. Royal Mtrseum llawthornden Court. 2 Chambers Street. 247 42 l‘). Step back in time with a fascinating weaponry deriionstration. The Antonine Guard Sun 2o Feb. l2.45prn. l.45pm 6'; 3.45pm. Free. Royal Museum llawthornden Court. 2 (’httltthcrs Street. 247 42 l‘). Meet Scotland's last reiriaining Roman legion. Legio \'l Victoria and uncover the truth about the Romans in Scotland.
Theatre & Dance
Martha Sat IX Feb. I lam & 2pm. £5 (£3 £3.50). North lidinburgli Arts Centre. l5a l’enny'well Court. 3|5 2l5l. Catherine Wheels present the tale of stubborn Martha. who thinks she doesn't need any friends until an unexpected yisitor changes her life forever. Ages 4+. Perfecting Eugene Fri 24 Feb. £l() (£6.50). Brunton Theatre. Ladywell Way. Musselburgh. 665 2240. Britain's foremost dance in education company. l.udas. present this new show for ages 8+ about a couple desperate to have the perfect baby.
Books
Stories in the Forest Room Sun It) Feb. 2pm. Free. Royal Botanic (iarden. lnverleith Row. 552 7l7l. Join the RB(ili Storytellers for tales of mystery. magic. trees and travels.
Doodles and Tales Sun 26 Feb. 2—4prn. Free. National (iallery of Scotland. The Mound. 624 6200. Royal Scottish Academy Building. An afternoon of fun activities. bringing modem paintings and sculptures to life. Ages 5-9.