Kids
Events are listed by city, then type. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to suzanne@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Suzanne Black. Glasgow Activities and Fun FREE Back to the Drawing Board Sun 14 Dec, 2–3.30pm. Museum of Transport, Kelvin Hall, 1 Bunhouse Road, 287 2651. Drop into the museum and have fun at this creative workshop where you can sketch some of the objects on display. FREE Saturday Art Club Sat 13, 20 & 27 Dec, 10.30am–1pm. Gallery of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square, 229 1996. Art activities relating to the art on display with drawing, collage, sculpture-making and games. Ages 3–12. Santa’s Grotto Until Wed 24 Dec, Mon–Fri 2–8pm; Sat/Sun 11am–8pm. £7. George Square, www.winterfestglasgow.com. Tell the main man your present requests, have your photo taken and receive a present. FREE Family Fun Days Every Sat & Sun until 11 Jan, times vary. George Square, www.winterfestglasgow.com. Entertainment from Glasgow International
Comedy Festival, Glasgow Science Centre, face painting, ice skating, storytelling and more. Santa’s Coming to Mugdock Until Tue 23 Dec, Sat/Sun (also 22 & 23 Dec), noon–6.45pm. £tbc. Mugdock Country Park, Craigallian Road, Milngavie, 956 6100. Santa visits his Mugdock residence. Junior Rangers – Environmental Trip Sat 13 Dec, 9am–4pm. £tbc. Mugdock Country Park, Craigallian Road, Milngavie, 956 6100. Enjoy a wild day out to a mystery countryside location with ranger-led activities for 13–18 year olds. Booking essential. FREE Kelvingrove Museum Nature Club: Life in the Freezer Sat 13 Dec, 10.30am. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Gallery tours, specimen handling, hands-on activities and games. Ages 8–12. FREE Family and adult weekends Sat 13 & Sun 14 Dec, 11–11.45am. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. A fun way to find out about the stories behind the paintings in the Impressionism and Scotland exhibition. For families with children aged 7 or younger. FREE Family and Adult Weekends Sat 13 & Sun 14 Dec, noon–2pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum,
PREVIEW CHRISTMAS CLOWN SHOW JOLLY JANGO CHRISTMAS Winter Wonderland, Edinburgh, until 4 Jan
As a first class juggler and slapstick comedian, Clive Andrews knows a lot about good timing. So it seems appropriate that his route to becoming a clown was due to being in the right place at the right time. Working as an aerialist in an Australia circus, a fellow performer’s absence brought Andrews back down to earth. ‘One night, in the great tradition of circus, something went wrong and there was a space in the programme,’ recalls Andrews. ‘And I’d always wanted to be a clown but had got sidetracked into being an aerialist, so I went out there and did a bit of slapstick and clowning around. I got a good laugh and thought, “Yeah, this is what I want to do.”’
Twelve years later, Andrews has built up an impressive career as Jango the Clown, taking in everything from kids birthday parties to his charming children’s show, The Lighthouse Keeper to working as a comic waiter at dinner functions. For the duration of this festive season, however, Andrews will be in residence at the Spiegeltent in East Princes Street Gardens as part of Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations. Blending physical comedy, juggling, puppetry and humorous magic, Jolly Jango Christmas takes place in the morning, while in the evening Andrews performs in the more adult White Magic show. How does he find swapping between audiences? ‘I do some of the same things in both shows but they’re presented differently,’ says Andrews. ‘I perform in lots of situations and can adapt to the age range of the audience. Adults often come up to me after the kids show and tell me how much they’ve enjoyed it, because they get things out of it that the kids don’t and vice versa.’ (Kelly Apter)
70 THE LIST 11 Dec 2008–8 Jan 2009
Argyle Street, 276 9599. Create your own works of art, taking inspiration from the Impressionism and Scotland exhibition. Suitable for families with children aged 5 and over. FREE Burrell for Families Sat 13 Dec, 2pm. Burrell Collection, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 287 2550. Discover the Christmas story in objects at the Burrell, then make your own present. For families with children aged 5–12. The Great Christmas Puppet Making Workshop Sat 13 Dec, 2pm. £6.95. Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Make a cool Santa, wee elf puppet, Christmas fairy or angel. All materials supplied. FREE Stained Glass Pictures Sun 14 Dec, 1–3pm. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Create a wintry scene in stained glass. Ages 5–12. FREE Transport in Art Sat 20 Dec, 11am–12.30pm. Museum of Transport, Kelvin Hall, 1 Bunhouse Road, 287 2720. Make your own art using chains and other bicycle parts. Suitable for children aged 7–12. Festival Glasgow Winterfest Until Sun 11 Jan, times & prices vary. Various venues. A host of festive fun, including an ice rink, Santa Dash, concerts, the Irn Bru Carnival and Hogmanay bash. Visit www.winterfestglasgow.com for full details.
Music Children’s Classic Concerts: Sleigh Ride Sat 13 Dec, 1pm & 3pm. £10 (£6). Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. Fun and frolics at this classical concert for ages 4–14, presented by energetic percussionists, Owen & Olly. My First Carol Concert with Milkshake Live! Thu 18 Dec, 11am & 2pm. £15. Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. Characters from Channel 5’s Milkshake join the British Philharmonic Orchestra for some Christmas favourites.
Theatre and Dance The Beauty of Sleeping Wood Until Wed 24 Dec, 10.30am & 1.30pm. £5. Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, 552 4267. See preview. Ceilidh Tree Until Sat 13 Dec, Thu 10am; Fri/Sat 1pm & 5pm. £6.50 (£2.50–£4.50). Platform, The Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road, Easterhouse, 276 9696. Woodland creatures, story and song combine in this gentle production for ages 5 and under. Molly Whuppie Until Sat 20 Dec (not Sun), times vary. £7 (£3.50–£5). Platform, The Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road, Easterhouse, 01506 844645. Licketyspit presents this captivating musical tale about a little girl who embarks on a fantastic adventure. The Singing Kettle: Christmas Toy Shop Thu 11–Sun 14 Dec, Thu–Fri 10.30am (Thu mat 1.30pm, also Fri 5pm); Sat/Sun noon & 3pm. £11–£12 (family ticket £40–£44). Braehead Arena, Kings Inch Road, 0870 444 6062. More sing-a- long fun from Cilla, Artie, Gary and Kevin. CBeebies at the Theatre Thu 11 Dec, 2pm & 5.30pm. £15.50–£22.50. SECC, Finnieston Quay, 0870 040 4000. Stephanie from Lazytown, is joined by Underground Ernie and a host of other Cbeebies favourites for an all-singing Christmas show. Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour Thu 18–Sun 21 Dec, Thu–Sat 7.30pm (Sat mat noon & 3.45pm); Sun 11am, 2.45pm & 6.30pm. £11.50–£33.50. Braehead Arena, Kings Inch Road, 0870 444 6062. The Disney musical gets its skates on and does some soaring and flying across the ice. The Snow Maiden Sat 20 Dec, 2pm & 6pm. £4.50. Gilmorehill G12, 9 University Avenue, 330 5522. Family puppet show for ages 3+.
Storytelling FREE Christmas Storytime Sat 20 Dec, 2–3pm. Mitchell Library, 201 North Street, 287 2999. Festive stories and poems for all ages. Edinburgh Activities and Fun Bendy Santa Trail Until Wed 24 Dec, 10am–5pm. £7.95 (£6.50; children £5.50). Camera Obscura, Castlehill, Royal Mile, 226 3709. The popular tourist attraction gets a festive addition. Christmas at Bruntsfield Until Sun 21 Dec, Sat/Sun 11.30am–3.30pm. £3.50 for visit and gift. Corner of Bruntsfield Place and Terrace, 07809 375860. Santa’s Grotto and Garvald’s stall, with all proceeds going to charity. Wild Winter Weekends Until Sun 21 Dec, Fri–Sun 9am–4.30pm. £11.50 (£10; children £8; under 3s free). Edinburgh Zoo, Corstorphine Road, 334 9171. Santa and Mrs Claus in their zoo grotto, live reindeer and a Wishing Tree. Free admission for every adult accompanied by a paying child. FREE Super Science Show / Meet the Scientist Until Sun 28 Dec, Sat/Sun 12.15pm, 1.15pm, 2.15pm & 3.15pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 247 4422. Learn about the science behind everyday life, hitch a ride on a mini hovercraft or sit on a chair of nails. Ages 5+. FREE Frosty Winter Scenes Sat 13 Dec, 10am–noon & 1.30–3.30pm. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3963. Take inspiration from the Treasured Places exhibition and create your own Christmas cards using metallic materials. Booking required. Ages 4+. Christmas Craft Workshop Sat 13 Dec, 10.30am–noon. £5 (£3). Hopetoun House, Shore Road, South Queensferry, 319 3956. A day of family fun making Christmas decorations, cards and crafts. Booking essential. Green Christmas Sat 13, Sun 14, Sat 20 & Sun 21 Dec, 10.30am–3pm. £3 to see Santa; all other activities free. Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Meet Santa in his magical grotto and have a go at some crafty activities using recycled materials. Tickets to see Santa available on the day. FREE The Tiger who Came to Tea Day Sat 13 Dec, 11am–4pm. Waterstone’s, 13–14 Princes Street, 556 3034. To coincide with the stage adaptation of Judith Kerr’s children’s story, you can meet the stripy feline himself. FREE Create a Winter Story Sat 13 Dec, 1–3pm. Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Take a walk with the Garden Rangers to gather inspiration, then pour your ideas into everything from poems to drawings. Ages 5+. Yule Logs and Christmas Crackers Sun 14 Dec, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. £4. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Make your own snow-covered Yule log and a special cracker to pull on Christmas day. FREE Space Creature Encounters Sun 14 Dec, noon–2pm & 2.30–4.30pm. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3963. Create your own fantastical space monster. Booking required. Ages 4+. FREE Sunday Science: Botanical Illustration Sun 14 Dec, noon–3pm. Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Learn about some of the techniques scientists use to identify newly discovered plants. Ages 5+. FREE It’s All in the Packaging Fri 19 & Sat 20 Dec, 2–4.30pm. National Gallery of Scotland Complex, The Mound, 624 6200. Create your own decorative gift box to contain a special present. Ages 5+. Handmade Felt Decorations Sat 20 Dec, 10am–12.30pm & 1–3.30pm. £4. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Make your own Christmas decorations or stocking. Ages 5+. A Family Christmas Sun 21 Dec, 11am–3pm. £5. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. A special