TODDLER THEATRE
BABY BALLOON
Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Tue 6-Sat 10 Feb; North Edinburgh Arts Centre, Tue 13-Sat 17 Feb
Parents sneaking out the door with a crying baby is a familiar sight at children’s theatre shows. Dragged along with an older sibling to a show too scary, confusing or just downright dull for tiny tots to endure, toddlers aren’t afraid to voice their displeasure.
But now that’s all about to change. London-based theatre company, Oily Cart has created a show tailor- made for the smallest members of the community. Baby Balloon takes children aged two and under on a magical journey of inflatable fun. Highly interactive and full of sensory wonder, the show has everything the average 1-year-old could desire — sound, touch, taste and smell. Oh, and lots of bubbles.
‘Once the bubbles come out the children usually
Events are listed by city, then
invade the stage,’ says Oily Cart’s artistic director, Tim Webb. ‘And we’re very happy about that. We’re working with toddlers, crawlers and people who bounce around on their bottoms, and we know that they don’t respect anything theatrical. So at any point, they can come and join us.’
Oily Cart has been creating innovative children’s theatre for over 25 years, but Baby Balloon is their first show for under twos. Webb is convinced you’re never too young for your first theatrical experience. ‘If you provide children with stimulating, delightful and challenging activities, then first and foremost they’re going to take a great deal of pleasure from it,’ he says. ‘But it also engages their minds, their imaginations and their emotions and I believe that when that happens you develop as an individual. When they’re watching Baby Balloon, you can practically hear their little synapses firing.’ (Kelly Apter)
CCA Kids: Visual Arts Workshops
type. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to jules@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Jules Graham.
Glasgow
Activities & Fun
Glasgow and Edinburgh Family Fun Weekend Sat 3 & Stilt 4 l‘eb. Times \ary. Participating attractions in lidinburgh and (ilasgow. I'ree entry to a nttmber ol' lidinburgh attractions lor
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latnilies trayelling lrom (ilasgow. and
\ ice \ersa. on l’irst Scoti'ail. Tickets can be purchased I'rom (ilasgow Queen Street. lidinburgh Wayerley and lidinburgh llaymarket stations at a cost ol‘ £9.3(l return per adult. which allows two accompanying children (5 I5 years) to tray cl I'or lreel (io to
ww wl‘amily l‘unweekendcouk l'or l'urther inl'ornuttion.
Saturday Art Club Sat 3 l‘cb & Sat II) I-‘eb. ll).3()am Ipm. l'ree. (iallery ol' Modern Art. Royal lixchange Square. 229 I996. l‘un art actiyities l'or children aged 3 I I. Parents can get stuck in too.
Sat 3 I‘eb & Sat It) lieb. 3 5pm. £3. (‘('.'\. 35(l Sauchiehall Street. 352 4900. (‘rcatiye workshops based on the e\hibition progrannne. Ages 5 I2.
Toy Cars Sat 3 l‘eb & Sat ll) l’eb. Sat l lam noon & 2 3pm. l‘ree. Museum ol~ 'l'ransport. Kelyin Hall. I liunhouse Road. 287 265l. (iiye your kids their lirst driying lesson in one ot the nuiseum's toy pedal cars. Remember. mirror. signal. manoeuyrc. Ages 5 8 years.
Back to the Drawing Board Sun 4 l‘eb & Sun I l Feb. ll.3()am & 2pm.
Free. Museum ol"l‘ransport. Kelyin Hall. I Bunhouse Road. 287 2720. Drop into the Museum and haye fun at this creatiye workshop.
Sunday Craft Club Sun 4 Feb 8; Sttn l I lieb. l lam—Ipm. l’ree. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre. 2()() Vl'oodhead Road. Nitsliill. 276 9375. Drop-in eral‘t club with a dill'erent theme each week. Ages 5—12.
Big and Little Yoga Mon 5 lieb & Mon 12 Feb. l.45pni. £4 per adult and child pairing. (iather In (ilasgow. l'pper liloor. 37 Ruthyen Lane (ol’l‘ Byres Road). ()7967l885l3. Weekly yoga session specially designed for adults and children (aged between I8 months and 5 years) to enjoy together.
Firefly Little Drama Mon 5 lieb & Mon l2 l-‘eb. 2.45pm. £4. (lather In (ilasgow. l'pper l-‘loor. 37 Ruthyen Lane (ol'l' Byres Road). ()7967 I 885 I 3. let your imagination run wild at this creatiye session inyolying puppetry. storytelling and dance. Ages 3 5. Kids Yoga Sessions Mon 5 lieb & Mon 12 l-‘eb. 4pm & 5pm. £4. (iather In (ilasgow. l'pper I-‘loor. 37 Ruthyen Lane (ol‘l' Byres Road). ()7967 I885 I 3. Stretch and pose your way to a healthier mind and body with yoga teacher I.qu Black. Ages 5 8 years at 4pm. 8- l2 years at 5pm. Mid-Term Activities Sat ll) Tue 13 l-‘eb (not Mon). ltlam 5pm. l’ree with science mall entry: £6.95 (£4.95). (ilasgow Science ('entre. 5() Pacific Quay. 42() 5()()(). (iet stuck into a lull day ol‘ Iiye science show s. interactiye workshops and hands-on exhibits. Tram Man Sat 10 l‘eb. l2.3()pm. l’ree. Museum ol"l‘ransport. Kelyin Hall. I Bunhouse Road. 287 272i). ;\ tram conductor comes to life. and talks about the early days ol‘ (ilasgow‘s public transport system.
Sailors’ Valentines Sat 10 Tue 13 Feb. Ipm. The Tall Ship at (ilasgow Harbour. l(l() Stobcross Road. 222 25l3. Make your own little box ol' loye. as traditionally cral‘ted by lonesome sailors on l‘ar llung sea Voyages.
Musuc
Music for Early Ears Sat 3 Feb. I.3()pm. 2.15pm & 3.15pm. I-‘ree. (‘ity lIalIs. ('andleriggs. 353 8()()(). (‘reatiye music classes for young children. Ages 2 3 at l.3()pm. 3 -4 at 2.I5pm and 4 5 at 3.l5pm.
Children’s Classic Concerts: Ceilidhs to Carnivals Sat It) l-‘eb. lpm & 3pm. £10. Royal (‘oncert Hall. 2 Sauchiehall Street. 353 8000. Mttsic and dance from all oyer the globe.
Theatre & Dance
Olga the Brolga Fri 2 I-‘eb. I lam & I.45pni. £5 (local links £3). l’latl’orm. The Bridge. 1000 \Vestet‘house Road. liasterhouse. 276 9696. Yl)ance present this colourful dance show about a bird who longs to strut her stul‘l‘ on the dance floor. Ages 3+.
Looking for Nessie Sat 3 l-‘eb. 2pm. £4.75 (£4.25). Scottish Mask and Puppet (‘entre. (’ It) Balcarres Ayenue. Kelyindale. 339 6185. l’un and laughter with Talking Heads pttppets for ages 3+. Baby Balloon Tue () Sat It) I’eb. l()am & noon (also l-‘ri/Sat mat. 2.30pm). £l() lor baby and carer. Tron Theatre. 63 'l'rongate. 552 4267. See preyiew. Absolutely Fabulist Mon I2 Q Tue I3 l‘eb. l lain t" 2.30pm. £5. Tron 'I'heatre. 63 'l‘rongate. 552 4267. Time- trayelling storyteller Aesop treats us to some ol‘ his most labulous tables. .-\ges 5 ll).
Exhibitions
Molecular Machines Sat 3 Thu 15 l-‘eb (not Mon). Illam 5pm. l’rce. Glasgow Science (Chile. 50 l’ttL‘lllL‘ Quay. 42() 5000. From the common cold to bird llu and beyond. Viruses are rarely otit ol' the headlines. This new e\hibition. l‘eaturing preyiously unseen itnages. blends science and art to giye a unique View ol‘ the secret liyes ol'
\ iruses.