Kids Kids
ADAPTATION HARE AND TORTOISE The Old Sheriff Court, Glasgow, Sat 26 Sep; Macrobert, Stirling, Sun 27 Sep ●●●●●
A noisy audience at a children’s show can mean one of two things: the kids are so bored they’re chatting among themselves, or they’re so involved they just can’t keep a lid on it. Happily for Licketyspit theatre company, the latter was true at the performance I saw.
Adapted from Aesop’s well-loved fable, Hare and Tortoise is a hugely likeable show
that manages to turn a 60-second story into a 60-minute event. The tale itself remains largely untouched – hare is an over-confident speedball, tortoise a methodical plodder, and they’re both determined to win the race. But writers Virginia Radcliffe and Deborah Arnott have also added a human element
to these formerly two-dimensional characters. Both have hopes and desires, good and bad sides to their nature, leading to a happy twist at the end. Previously performed by Radcliffe and Arnott themselves, the roles have been taken over by Paul Chaal and Tas Emiabata, who do a fine job of switching between characters.
Most enjoyable of all are larger-than-life bakers, the Bun Brothers. During one of many moments of fun participation, they recruit the entire audience to help bake a cake. From dreaming up our favourite ingredients, to whisking our bowl and throwing the contents on stage, we’re encouraged to use our imaginations.
A smattering of songs, silly costumes and an innovative set all conspire to make this tale of one-upmanship, greed but, ultimately, friendship enjoyable for all. (Kelly Apter)
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, Reality v Imagination, Sci-fi Scarves, Time Travel Tour, Cult Craft and Stars and Planets Tour. FREE A Curious Thing Happened . . . Sat 26 Sep, 11am, 1.30pm & 3.30pm. The Giant Workshop Space, 121–127 Saltmarket, 357 5000. Curious events around Glasgow involving musicians, strange instruments and participation. Ages 12 and under. Booking required. Part of the Merchant City Festival. FREE Burrell for Families: Natural art Sat 26 Sep, 2pm. Burrell Collection, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 287 2550. How do artists use natural objects to create amazing artworks? Find out and design your own piece of natural art. 58 THE LIST 24 Sep–8 Oct 2009
Junior Nature Club – No Parents Required! Sun 27 Sep, 1.45–4pm. £1. Mugdock Country Park, Craigallian Road, Milngavie, 956 6586. Today’s theme is ‘Wildlife in Wellies’ – see what you can find when you venture into bogs, ponds and marshes. Ranger-led activities for 8- 12-year-olds. Booking essential. Baby Loves Disco Sun 27 Sep, 2–5pm. £8 (non-walking babies free). Tiger Tiger, The Glasshouse, 20 Glassford Street, 553 4888. A chance to re-live your clubbing days, only this time with your wee one by your side. Dancing, entertainment, activities, free juice and snacks and a good time had by all. Tickets from www.babylovesdisco.co.uk Bright Eyed Babies Massage Class Mon 5 Oct, 10.30–11.30am. £45 for four weeks. Partick Burgh Hall, 9 Burgh Hall Street, 07802 640619. A course in massage, reflexology and aromatherapy for babies. Contact 07802 640619 or brighteyedbabies@live.co.uk for more info. Theatre & Dance 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. Suitable for everyone aged 11 and older who isn’t afraid of the dark.
Hare and Tortoise Sat 26 Sep, 11am & 2pm. £6. Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street. Also Fri 2 Oct, 10.30am & 1.30pm. £8 (£2.50–£4.50). Platform, The Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road, Easterhouse, 276 9696. Aesop’s tale is given a new and exciting treatment by Licketyspit. See review. Oscar’s Amazing Space Adventure Sat 3 Oct, 2pm. £4.95 (children £4.75). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Mousetale Puppets present the story of Oscar the mouse who’s just started school. Storytelling FREE Library Story Time Sat 26 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 Storytelling at St Mungo’s Sat 26 & Sun 27 Sep, 2–3pm. St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art, 2 Castle Street, 553 2557. An afternoon of amazing tales. Part of the Merchant City Festival. Family Story Time Sun 27 Sep, 1.30pm & 4pm. £5 (family ticket £15). Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, 552 4267. Tales for the under 5s. Part of the Merchant City Festival.
Edinburgh Activities and Fun FREE Family Fun Sat 26 Sep & 3 Oct, 10am. North Edinburgh Arts Centre, 15a Pennywell Court, 315 2151. Choose from art and drama classes (50p–£2 each), art and craft activities, the garden play area and café. FREE A Slice of Life: Geology Special Until Sun 27 Sep, Sat/Sun 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 and stepping back into the intriguingly named ‘deep time’. FREE Scottish Archaeology Month: Myth busters Fri 25 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. Sunday Sewing Club Sun 27 Sep & 4 Oct, 11am–12.30pm. £6. Imagination Workshop, 136 Marchmont Road, 466 0148. Learn basic sewing skills from Julia Rutherford. Age 8+. Booking essential. ZOO Wed 30 Sep & 7 Oct, 4pm. £2 (50p). North Edinburgh Arts Centre, 15a Pennywell Court, 315 2151. After-school art club for budding young artists with artist Fran Priest. P4–7. Saturday Art Club: The Discovery of Spain Sat 26 Sep & 3 Oct, 10am–noon & 1.30–3.30pm. £40 (£10). National Gallery of Scotland: Clore Education Centre, The Mound, 624 6560. Ann McCluskey leads a four-week painting course exploring The Discovery of Spain. The morning session is for ages 10–12; the afternoon session ages 8–11. Please book in advance. FREE Museum of Edinburgh Puppet Show Sat 26 Sep, times vary. Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate, 529 4143. Tales of Scottish history and dressing up activities. FREE Holyrood Park Archaeology Day Sun 27 Sep, 11am–3pm. Holyrood Park Education Centre, 1 Queen’s Drive, 652 8150. Find out more about life in the Iron Age with a Druid guide. Fossil and Dinosaur Day Sun 27 Sep, 11am–3.30pm. Included in admission: £14 (£12; children £9.50; under 3s free). Edinburgh Zoo, Corstorphine Road, 334 9171. Learn about fossils and try to dig out a dinosaur.
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FREE Roman Fun Shop Sun 27 Sep, noon–4pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. Get stuck into some Roman arts and crafts. FREE Outdoor Food! Sat 3 Oct, 11am–5pm. Bridgend Allotments, 41 Old Dalkeith Road, 664 9559. Harvest fresh ingredients from the allotment then cook and eat them up in the outdoor kitchen. Booking essential. Under 16s must be accompanied. FREE This is my Family Sat 3 Oct, 1–3pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. Art workshops for LGBT families. FREE What is a Fruit? Sat 3 Oct, 2–4pm. Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Find out the differences between fruit and veg. Ages 7+. FREE Meet the Clansmen! Sun 4 Oct, 12.45pm, 1.45pm & 2.45pm. National Museum of Scotland: Hawthornden Court, 2 Chambers Street, 247 4422. Meet some of our Highland forebears and learn about their weapons, costumes and traditions. FREE Art-tastic: Leaf prints Sun 4 Oct, 1–4pm. Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Create beautiful, colourful patterned fabric using prints of unusual leaf shapes from around the world. All ages welcome. FREE Awesome Autumn Wed 7 & Thu 8 Oct, 1–3pm. Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Some amazing things happen in nature in autumn – learn more from the Garden Rangers and try some crafty activities.
Theatre & Dance The Sun, the Moon and a Boy Called River Until Sat 26 Sep, Thu 10.30am; 7pm (Sat mat 2.30pm). £7.50. Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, 228 1404. Wee Stories theatre company takes a classic fairytale set- up and brings it to life in imaginative and surprising ways. Age 6+. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Until Thu 1 Oct (not Sun), Thu & Sat 2.30pm; Until Sat 26 Sep & Until Thu 1 Oct 7.30pm. £10.50–£28. Playhouse, 18–22 Greenside Place, 0844 847 1660. The West End stage adaptation of Disney’s Oscar-winning feature film comes to Scotland. Curse of the Demeter Sat 3 Oct, 7.30pm. £10.50 (£8.50; under 18s £6). Brunton Theatre, Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, 665 2240. See Glasgow. Storytelling Saturday Stories Sat 26 Sep, 11am. £5 (£4; family ticket £15). Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, 228 1404. Storytelling from Andy Cannon. Children must be accompanied.
Outside the Cities Theatre & Dance Mischief Thu 24 & Fri 25 Sep, Thu 1.30pm; Fri 10.30am & 5pm. £6 (£4). Macrobert, University of Stirling, 01786 466666. Let the dancers from Theatre Rites, choreographed by Arthur Pita, take you on a colourful, noisy and mesmerising journey. Ages 4+. Hare and Tortoise Sun 27 Sep, 2pm. £6 (£5). Macrobert, University of Stirling, Stirling, 01786 466666. See review. Curse of the Demeter Tue 29 & Wed 30 Sep, Tue 2.30pm; 7.30pm. £10 (£7). Perth Theatre, 185 High Street, Perth, 01738 621031. Also Fri 2 Oct, 7.30pm. £10 (£6). Paisley Arts Centre, New Street, Paisley, 887 1010. See Glasgow. The Sun, the Moon and a Boy Called River Sat 3 Oct, 2pm. £6 (£5). Macrobert, University of Stirling, 01786 466 666. See Edinburgh.