GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL.
LITTLE HOWARD’S KIDS’ SHOW
Never work with children or animals goes the surely outdated cliche. But what about an audience of children? Or a crowd of animals? Could you tell the difference? In his dual life as a grown-up’s and children’s comic, Howard Read has been confronted by gatherings of various degrees of awkwardness. ‘There’s a bit at the end of my show where me and Little Howard discuss what the moral of the story might be,’ he recalls. ‘When we were in Cardiff some kids shouted out “never trust anybody” and “kill all pigeons”, which I thought was a bit scary, and not the moral of the story at all. Generally, kids are small, noisy and very funny, but kids in Cardiff are depressed and have a
pathological hatred of pigeons.’
The Perrier-nominated Read has been round the stand-up comedy block with his tiny animated alter ego, but he’s still open to new influences. ‘l’ve got a five-month-old son called Samson, who’s starting to inspire Little Howard stuff. He can’t talk yet, but he pulls a lot of faces, and Little Howard’s started pulling the same ones recently.’ So, who is Howard’s animated little buddy really based on? ‘Me as a kid,’ Read confesses. ‘I was a very confused little boy and spent most of the time misunderstanding the world, and that’s what Little Howard does. I was a very serious child, and that’s why Little Howard doesn’t smile much. I was very serious, but everyone found me quite funny. Just like Little Howard.’ (Brian Donaldson)
I The Stand, G/asgow. Sat 77 8 Sun 78 Mar; Platform, Glasgow, Tue 20 Mar.
Events are listed by city, then type. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to jules©list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Jules Graham.
Glasgow
Activities And Fun
Space Robots Sat 17 6’; Sun 18 Mar: Sat 24 6’; Sun 25 Mar. I lam & 3pm (Sun 25 Mar. 1 lam only). £inc in admission. Glasgow Science Centre. 50 Pacilic Quay. ()871 540 I000. Skilfully program yottr robot to carry ottt an evacuation mission before returning to the safety of 110.
Saturday Art Club Sat 17 & Sat 24 Mar.
10.30am lptn. l’ree. Gallery of Modern Art. Royal Iixchange Square. 229 I996. liun art activities for children aged 3- I I. relating to art on display with drawing. collage. sculpture-making and games parents cart get stuck in too.
Toy Cars Sat I7 & Sat 24 Mar.
I lam noon & 2 3pm. liree. Mttsetrtn of 'I‘ranspott. Kelvin Hall. I Bunhouse Road. 287 265 I. Give your kids their first driving
58 THE LIST 1:".- 2f) Mztr 1200/
lesson in one of the museum’s toy pedal cars.
Burrell Family Club Sat 17 & Sat 24 Mar. 2 4pm. I‘ree. Burrell Collection. 2060 Pollokshaws Road. 287 2550. Regular family drop-in session featuring fun activities including storytelling. tours. arts and crafts.
CCA Kids: Visual Arts Workshops Sat 17 Mar 8; Sat 24 Mar. 3-—5pm. £3. (‘CA. 350 Sauchiehall Street. 352 4900. Creative workshops based on the exhibition programme. Ages 5- 12.
Sunday Craft Club Sun 18 & Sttn 25 Mar. I lam --Ipm. l‘ree. Glasgow Museums Itesource Centre. 200 Woodhead Road. Nitshill. 276 9375. Drop-in craft club with a different theme each week. Ages 5 12. Back to the Drawing Board Sun 18 & Sun 25 Mar. Sun I 1.30am lpm & 2--3.30pm. l‘ree. Museum of 'l‘ransport. Kelvin Ilall. 1 Bunhouse Road. 287 2720. There‘s no excuse for being bored on a Sunday -- drop into the Museum and have fun at this creative workshop. TheatreHub.co.uk Drama Workshops Sun 18 & Sun 25 Mar. lpm & 2pm. £l0. Gather In Glasgow. Upper
Floor. 37 Ruthven Lane. ()7967 188 513. Glasgow‘s newest weekly drama workshops for ages 7—l2. Booking essential. Iimail steven(a‘theatrehub.co.uk for further details.
Firefly Little Drama Mon l9 8; Mon 26 Mar. 2.45—3.30pm. £4. Gather In Glasgow. Upper Floor. 37 Ruthven Lane. ()7967 I885 I 3. Let your imagination rttn wild at this creative session involving puppetry. storytelling. dance and other forms of expression. Ages 3--5.
Kids Yoga Sessions Mon 19 8; Mon 26 Mar. Mon 4--5pm & 5--6pm. £4. Gather In Glasgow. Upper Floor. 37 Ruthven Lane. ()7967 I88 5 I 3. Stretch and pose your way to a healthier mind and body. Ages 5 8 at 4pm. 8--I2 at 5pm.
The Great Funky Puppets Making Workshop Sat 24 Mar. I0am. £6.50. Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre. 8- l0 Balcarres Avenue. Kelvindale. 339 6 I 85. [faster puppet making fun for ages 3+. Learn to cook . . . Chocolate Heaven Sat 24 Mar. I Iarn -2pm. £12.50 incuding all materials. Gather In Glasgow. l’pper Floor. 37 Ruthven Lane. ()7967 I88 513. Find ottt how to cook with chocolate at this one-day class for ages 8- 12 years. Yum!
Tram Man Sat 24 Mar. 12.30 Iprn. Free. Museum of 'l’ransport. Kelvin Hall. I Bunhouse Road. 287 2720. A tram condtrctor comes to life. and talks about the early days of Glasgow's public transport system.
Fantastic Forces Sttn 25 Mar. noon. 2pm & 4pm. £inc in admission. Glasgow Science Centre. 50 Pacific Quay. ()871 540 1000. A fun-packed show using rocket balloons. skateboards. buckets of water and a bed of nails to demonstrate Isaac Newton's laws on forces.
Theatre & Dance
Puppet Animation Festival 2007 Until Sun 22 Apr. Times and prices vary. Various venues across Scotland. ()1224 575743. Performances and workshops by leading puppetry companies from throughout the L'K. liurope and beyond. Go to www.puppetanimation.org for all the info.
Utternonsense Sat 17 Mar. 2pm at 3.45pm. £4.75 (£4.25). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre. 8 I0 Balcarres Avenue. Kelvindale. 339 6185. Blueboat Theatre present fantastical tales about Dougie the Dangerous Duck and Horace the llandsome Sltig. l’urt o/‘(i/usgmt' Illft’l'IIquUIlul ( 'ontt't/y I't'stit'al. Absoluter Fabulist Mon 19 Mar. 6.30pm. £3. St Macltan’s Primary School. St Machans Way. l.ennoxtown. 01360
31 I586. 'l'ime-travelling storyteller Aesop treats tts to some of his most fabulous fables. Ages 3 7. Part (if/)llplu’! Animation I‘t’.\'lfl‘(l/.
Magic and Puppet Show Sat 24 Mar. 2pm. £4.75 (£4.25). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre. 8-—I0 Balcarres Avenue. Kelvindale. 339 6185. Magician and Punch and Judy man Scott I.ovat conjures tip a show weaving the two together. Ages 3+.
Books
Look Who’s Talking: Theresa Breslin Thu 22 Mar. lpm. £5.50 (£4). King's Theatre. 297 Bath Street. 0870 060 6648. The local author of hit novels Divider! ( try and T/ll’ Medici .S't'u/ discusses her craft.
Storytelling Tall Tales at the Tron Sat 17 Mar. I0am. £2. Tron Theatre. 63 'l‘rongate. 552 4267. Interactive storytelling session with movement. mime and props. Ages 35. Tomorrow is Another Day Sat 17 Mar. 3.30-4.30pm. £4. Gather In Glasgow. Upper Floor. 37 Ruthven Lane. 07967 188 513. Stories of unlikely heroes and heroines with local storyteller Jean lidmiston. Ages 6-10.
Tasty Tales and Tunes Sat 24 Mar. 3.30 4.30pm. £4. Gather In Glasgow. Upper I‘Ioor. 37 Rtrthven Lane. ()7967 188 5 I 3. (lather round for rhymes. stories and songs on the theme of eating —- or being eaten with Glasgow storyteller Margaret Smith.
Edinburgh
Activities And
Big Art Wee Hands Sat 17 Mar. I0am & noon. £4 (£1.50--£2). North lidinburgh Arts Centre. Pennywell Court. 315 2151. Have a go at a range of visttal art media. including painting. sculpture. installation and digital photography. Ages 3-—5 at 10am and ages 5--X at noon.
Dance Kids Sat 17 Mar. I0am & I lam. £4 (£I.50~-£2). North lidinburgh Arts Centre. Pennywell Court. 315 215 I. Get your shoes and socks off and prepare to statnp. slide. jump and leap. Ages 3- 5 at I0am. ages 5—8 at I lam.
Mother’s Day at Doodles Sun 18 Mar. Doodles Ceramic Workshop. 29 Marchrnont Crescent. 229 1399. Paint the perfect personalised pottery present for mum. or bring her along on the day itself and she can make a tnug for free.
Tiny Dance Kids Sat 24 Mar. 10am &
I 1.30am. £4 (£1.50 £2). North lidinburgh Arts Centre. Pennywell Court. 315 2151. An introduction to dance for the very little ones. Ages 0 -- I 8 months at 10am and ages 18 months 3 years at I 1.30am.
First Impressions: Salvador Dali Sat 24 Mar. 11am & lpm. £4 (£1.50 £2). North lidinburgh Arts Centre. Pennywell Court. 315 2151. Learn about Surrealism and create your own mixed media dream picture. Ages 3 6 at I 1am. ages 7+ at lpm.
Theatre & Dance
Puppet Animation Festival 2007 lfntil Stm 22 Apr. Times and prices vary. Various venues across Scotland. 01224 575743. Performances and workshops throughout Scotland by leading puppetry companies from throughout the 1K. liurope and beyond. Go to www.puppetanimationorg for all the info. Green Whale Thu 15 Sat I7 Mar. Thu 10am & Iptn: Fri Iprn: Sat I lam & 3pm. £6 (family ticket £22). Brunton Theatre. Ladywell Way. Musselburglt. 665 2240. l.icketyspit present their engaging deep-sea adventure story for ages 3+.
Storytelling
Shadows on the Wall l’ntil Sat 5 May (not Sun). 10am 6pm. Free. Scottish Storytelling Centre. 43- 45 Iliin Street. 556 9579. An exhibition of exquisite Indonesian Wayang Ktilit and Wayang Golek puppets and the stories they tell.
Talking Trees Storytelling Sun 18 Mar. 2-3pm. I‘ree. Royal Botanic Garden. Inverleith Row. 552 717 l. The Talking Trees storytellers transport adults and children alike to a magical land far. far away. Suitable for anyone with an imagination.
Tales of Toys and Fishy Yarns Sat 24 Mar. 1 1.30am. 12.30pm & 1.30pm. Free. Museum of Scotland. Chambers Street. 247 4219. Drop by and listen to storyteller Marion Kenny's tall tales and tunes inspired by the films of Pixar .-\nimation Studios.
Outside the Cities
Activities And Fun
Cake Decorating Session Sat 17 Mar. 2.30pm. £5. Cringletie Ilouse. Peebles.
01 721 725750. Come and decorate something sweet to show your Mum how much you care. under the tutelage of the house's pastry chef Julie George and baker Ruth Griffiths.
Theatre & Dance
The Gruffalo’s Child Wed 21 Strn 25 Mar. Wed—Fri 10.30am & l.30pm: Sat/Sun l lam & 2pm. £6 (child £5). MacRobert. University of Stirling. Stirling. 0l786 466666. .-'\ward-winning author Julia Donaldson‘s story is brought to life by Tall Stories theatre company. Age 3+.
The Ugly Duckling Sat 24 Mar. 3pm. £5 (family ticket £16). Iiast Killiride Arts Centre. ()ld Coach Road. l‘iilSl Kilbl‘ide. 01355 261000. 'l'abletop puppetry and storytelling combine in Clydebuilt Puppet 'I'heatre‘s reworking of Ilans Christian Andersen's classic. Ages 3 -7. Part of I’u/tpt'l .rlnintulion I't's‘lit'u/ 2007.