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 Doctor Who Activities Sat & Sun until Sat 7 Nov, times vary. Free with exhibition ticket: £7.50 (£4.50). Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. A variety of craft activities and tours. Choose from Fantasy v Reality, Cult Comics, Fantasy v Imagination, Sci-fi Scarves, Time Travel Tour, Cult Craft and Stars and Planets Tour. FREE Saturday Art Club Sat 12 & 19 Sep, 10.30am–1pm. Gallery of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square, 287 3050. Art activities run by a different art educator each week relating to the art on display with drawing, collage, sculpture-making and games. Parents can get stuck in too. Ages 3–12. FREE Back to the Drawing Board Sun 13 & 20 Sep, 2–3.30pm. Museum of Transport, Kelvin Hall, 1 Bunhouse Road, 287 2651. There’s no excuse for being bored on a Sunday – drop into the museum and have fun at this creative workshop where you can sketch some of the objects on display. FREE Scoular Anderson – How a Book is Made Mon 14 Sep, 2–3pm. Drymen Community Library, The Square, Drymen, 01360 660751. Scoular Anderson presents a fascinating insight into the ins and outs of making a book in this talk aimed at children in classes P5–6. Part of Off the Page. FREE Colour the Clyde Sat 19 Sep, 11.30am–2.30pm. The Lighthouse, 11 Mitchell Lane, 221 6362. Creative drawing inspired by the heritage of the River Clyde with illustrator Stuart White. What can you add to the large-scale mural? FREE Burrell for Families: Charcoal Fun Sat 19 Sep, 2pm. Burrell Collection, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 287 2550. Learn to draw with charcoals like the Dutch artist Matthijs Maris. FREE Autumn Fun Sun 20 Sep, noon–3pm. Tollcross Children’s Farm, Wellshot Road, 763 1863. Have a go at some circus skills, get your face painted and learn to make balloon models at this day of family fun. Music Music for Early Ears Sat 12 & 19 Sep, times vary. £36 for 12 weeks. City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. These creative music classes for young children and their parents/carers aim to encourage learning through creative play. Ages 18 months–2 years at 1.30pm; 3–4 years at 2.30pm.
Theatre & Dance I Spy with PC McKay Sat 12 Sep, 2pm. £4.95 (children £4.75). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Can PC Mackay find cheeky Robert’s dog, and what has happened to Randalph’s wand? Help him solve the mystery. Suitable for kids aged 3–8. FREE Museum of Dreams Sat 19 Sep, 11am & 2.30pm. Ticketed. Citizens Theatre, 119 Gorbals Street, 429 0022. Multimedia show suitable for 6–8 year-olds about a dusty old museum brought to life by a magical new exhibit. The Paperbag Princess Sat 19 Sep, 2pm. £4.95 (children £4.75). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Pavla’s Puppets present this tale of Princess Elizabeth and her unlikely encounter with the dragon who burned down her castle and stole her Prince. Ages 3+. Curse of the Demeter Thu 24 Sep, 10.30am & 1.30pm. £8 (£3.50–£4.50). Platform, The Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road, Easterhouse, 276 9696. A spooky tale brought to the stage by Visible Fictions. Ages 11+.
62 THE LIST 10–24 Sep 2009
Storytelling FREE Library Storytime Sat 12 Sep, 11–11.30am & noon–12.30pm. Gallery of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square, 287 3050. Sit back and enjoy a relaxing half hour of storytelling. For families with children aged 3–8. FREE River Tales Sat 19 Sep, 10am–5pm. The Lighthouse, 11 Mitchell Lane, 221 6362. Family storytelling about the Clyde River throughout the day from Jean Edmiston. Edinburgh Activities and Fun Gardening 4 Kids Fri 11 & 18 Sep, 1–3pm. £1. Bridgend Allotments, 41 Old Dalkeith Road, 664 9559. An introduction to horticulture for ages 6–10. Children must be accompanied. Booking essential. FREE Garden Detectives Until Sun 27 Sep, times vary. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. Experience the sounds and smells of a garden, all without getting your hands dirty. FREE Family Fun Sat 12 & 19 Sep, 9.30–11.30am. North Edinburgh Arts Centre, 15a Pennywell Court, 315 2151. A range of Saturday morning activities.
Make and Take Session: Creepers, Speeders and Rollers Sat/Sun 11.30am–1pm & 2–4pm. Free with admission: £8.50 (£6.50; under 12s free). National Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, 247 4238. Use recycled materials to make a toy that moves. Ages 3+. FREE A Slice of Life: Geology Special Sat 12, Sun 13 & Sat 19-Mon 21 Sep, 11am–1pm & 2–4pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. Celebrate the Scottish Geology Festival by discovering the secrets of Scotland’s ancient rocks. FREE Scottish Archaeology Month: Myth busters Fri 11 & 18 Sep, 2.30pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. Explore and explode some common myths about early Scots with a series of talks by the museum curators. Booking recommended. Dancing Birds Sat 12 Sep, 10am–12.30pm. £4 per adult/child. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. A guided woodland walk followed by art activities. Under 8s must be accompanied. Book in advance. FREE Royal Treasures Sat 12 Sep, 1–4pm. Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Join the Garden Rangers on an exploration of the royally named plants in the collection. Ages 3+.
FAIRYTALE ADAPTATION THE SUN, THE MOON AND A BOY CALLED RIVER Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Wed 23–Sat 26 Sep
Wee Stories Theatre isn’t afraid to tamper with a title. In recent years, the company has given us The Emperor’s New Kilt, Jock and the Beanstalk, and now it has taken an East European fairytale known as Old Man Almanac, and transformed it into The Sun, The Moon and a Boy Called River.
‘It wasn’t a very catchy title so we came up with a new one,’ says Andy Cannon. ‘But the story itself is very well known – although it hasn’t made it across the Channel very much.’
Cannon and his Wee Stories compadre Iain Johnstone have adapted the tale to suit two actors and a harpist, but the fundamental core remains. Two babies born at the same time are prophesised to marry one another. Only trouble is, one is the son of a poor woodcutter, the other a princess whose objectionable father takes a rather dim view of the proposed marriage. ‘One of the things which makes it a great story,’ says Cannon. ‘is that the king
is the author of his own end. Because of his greed and desire, he manages to construct his downfall – and the children see what’s about to happen to him and start to chuckle as he walks into his own trap, which is lovely.’ Once again, Wee Stories will be striving to appeal to everyone from school
age upwards – and if its previous offerings are anything to go by, it’ll succeed. As Cannon says, the duo don’t set out to make children’s theatre, it just so happens that kids love what they do just as much as adults.
‘We call ourselves Scotland’s multi-generational theatre company,’ says
Cannon. ‘And over the years, whatever we’ve done, we’ve been determined to enjoy it ourselves – and we want children to be in the audience enjoying it with us.’ (Kelly Apter)
www.list.co.uk/kids
FREE No Biodiversity, No Breakfast! Sat 19 Sep, 1–4pm. Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Play some biodiversity games to find out how we’d get on without plants. Ages 5+. FREE Meet the Vikings! Sun 20 Sep, noon–4pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. Witness everything from weaving to warriors, play Viking games and watch jewellery being made. FREE Dino-mania! Mon 21 Sep, 10.30am–4.30pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. Make your own model dino-world as part of the Scottish Geology Festival. All materials provided. FREE Fossil Roadshow Mon 21 Sep, 11am–1pm & 2–4pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. Bring your fossil finds for identification. Fairy Story Castle Cushions Mon 21 Sep, 11am–3.30pm. £4 per adult/child. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Bring along your favourite fairytale then make a cushion of the story. Under 8s must be accompanied. Book in advance.
Music The Farmer’s Cheese Sat 19 Sep, 2.30pm & 7pm. £6 (£4; family ticket £17). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Oliver Searle’s adaptation of The Farmer’s Cheese is a musical adventure written for hearing- impaired children. Ages 6+. Deacon Sat 19 Sep, 4pm & 8.30pm. £6 (£4). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. A musical by Zack A Moir designed to work with cochlear implants. For older children and adults.
Theatre & Dance Milkshake! Live in My First Concert Fri 11–Sun 13 Sep, Fri 4.30pm; Sat/Sun 11am & 2.30pm. £14.50 (children £12.50; under 2s £2; family ticket £50). Festival Theatre, 13/29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. Popular characters from Channel 5’s Milkshake take to the live stage. Hare and Tortoise Sat 12 Sep, 3pm. £6 (family ticket £22). Brunton Theatre, Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, 665 2240. Aesop’s tale is given a new and exciting treatment by Licketyspit. Ages 3–7. The Sun, the Moon and a Boy Called River Wed 23–Sat 26 Sep, 7pm (also Thu 10.30am, also Sat 2.30pm). £7.50. Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, 228 1404. Wee Stories theatre company brings a fairytale to life in imaginative and surprising ways. Age 6+. See preview. Books FREE Eric Pullen Sat 12 Sep, 2pm. Borders Books, Fort Kinnaird Retail Park, 657 4041. Children’s author Eric Pullen launches three more of his Why? books.
Storytelling FREE Songs and Stories of the Picts Sun 13 Sep, 12.45pm, 1.45pm & 2.45pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. Stuart McHardy tells tales of the lives of the mysterious Picts amongst the museum’s fantastic Pictish collections. Part of Scottish Archaeology Month 2009. Story Space Thu 17 Sep, 11am. £5. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Storytelling in the courtyard with games, songs and movement to get the imagination working. Led by Ailie Finlay. Ages 2–5 (plus carers). FREE Talking Trees Storytelling Sun 20 Sep, 2–3pm. Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 248 2968. Talking Trees storytelling returns to transport adults and children alike to a magical land far, far away. Ages 5+. Tiny Tales Tue 22 Sep, 10am & 11.30am. £4. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Stories, rhymes and songs for wee (and not so wee) ears. Ages 6 months–3 years.