Kids
STAGE ADAPTATION SHAUN’S BIG SHOW Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh, Wed 6-Sat 9 Apr There’s no higher accolade for a character, then to get your own spin-off. Cheers led to Frasier, Friends to Joey, and Family Guy gave birth to The Cleveland Show. But who would have thought, when A Close Shave premiered in 1995, that a skinny legged sheep would eventually eclipse both its lead characters? From the moment Shaun the Sheep first ate his way through Wallace and Gromit’s kitchen, he became a national treasure. Launched in 2007, the TV show dedicated to Shaun and his farmyard friends (and enemies) has gone on to win two Emmy Awards and a BAFTA, airing in over 70 countries worldwide. Largely because, like most things created by Aardman Animations, it’s clever, funny, taps into the modern zeitgeist and appeals to all ages.
So when it came to creating a live stage version of the show, keeping that integrity intact was paramount. ‘It wasn’t just a case of Aardman granting us the licence and walking away,’ says Ed O’Driscoll, producer of Shaun’s Big Show. ‘They’ve been involved in script development, costumes, scenery – everything.’
O’Driscoll also made the smart move of bringing renowned children’s
writer David Wood onboard, who found an inspired way to tackle the fact that nobody in Shaun the Sheep, animal or human, actually talks. ‘It’s the animation equivalent of a silent movie,’ says O’Driscoll. ‘So we
needed to find a common language to convey the story and all the emotions. And one of the things David came up with was dance, so it’s all fully choreographed with pigs tap dancing to Singing in the Rain and the flock of sheep dancing Swan Lake. The kids watching it have been absolutely mesmerised.’ (Kelly Apter)
Tiny Tales Tue 19 & 26 Apr, 10am & 11.30am. £5 (accompanying adult free). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Stories, rhymes and songs for wee (and not so wee) ears. Ages 6 months to 3 years. Story Space Thu 21 Apr, 11am. £6 (accompanying adult free). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Storytelling with games, songs and movement. Ages 2–5.
Music Northern Streams: Children’s Folklore Session Sat 2 Apr, 11am. £5 (accompanying adult free). The Pleasance, 60 Pleasance, 228 1155. Stories, music and song based on Scottish traditions, with Slavic and Norse tales thrown in. For ages 5+. Part of Ceilidh Culture. Portobello Fun Fiddle Sat 2 Apr, 1.30pm. £10 (£8; children £5; family ticket £20). St James Church Hall, Rosefield Place Portobello, 228 1155. Workshops for all ages and abilities, followed by a ‘Grand Carnival Stramash’ at 3.30pm. Part of Ceilidh Culture. Theatre Caged Thu 31 Mar, 7pm; Fri 1 Apr, 10.30am. £14 (£6–£10). Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, 228 1404. See
76 THE LIST 31 Mar–28 Apr 2011
Glasgow, Theatre & Comedy. Shaun the Sheep in Shaun’s Big Show Wed 6 Apr, 7pm; Thu 7 Apr 11am & 7pm; Fri 2pm & 7pm; Sat 9 Apr, 11am, 2pm & 7pm. Fri 8 Apr, 2pm & 7pm. £18–£20.25. Playhouse, 18–22 Greenside Place, 0844 847 1660. Shaun decides to perform for his friends Bitzer, Shirley and Timmy in this lively music and dance show. See preview. Is This A Dagger?: The Story of Macbeth Sun 10 Apr, 2pm. £7 (£5). The Pleasance, 60 Pleasance, 650 4673. Wee Stories’ take on the true story of Macbeth. Ages 8+. The Lost Sock Princess Tue 12 Apr, 11am. £3.50 (£2.50). Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7100. If you’ve ever wondered where all the odd socks come from, join the Lost Sock Princess as she finally explains. Part of the Puppet Animation Festival. Jack Thu 14 Apr, 2pm. £6.40 (£4.50). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Puppet show with Celtic harp and Irish bodhrán accompaniment. Ages 4–11. Puppet Animation Festival. Willie the Wicked Wolf Fri 15 Apr, 2pm. £6.40 (£4.50). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. A very non-traditional version of Little Red Riding Hood with the rock’n’roll,
motorbike-loving wolf at the helm. Ages 4+. Puppet Animation Festival. Little Red Robin Hood Sat 16 Apr, 2pm. £6.40 (£4.50). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. A cheeky fairytale mash-up. Ages 4+. Puppet Animation Festival. The Call of the Loonbird Tue 19 Apr, 11am. £3.50 (£2.50). Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7100. Eerie music and shadow puppets spin the tale of a young boy who saves a bird’s life. Puppet Animation Festival. Tamlin Wed 20 Apr, 11am. £3.50 (£2.50). Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7100. Yugen Puppet Company tells the story of Tamlin’s escape from the fairy underworld. Ages 4+ Puppet Animation Festival. Who’s Been Sitting in my Chair? Thu 21 Apr, 2pm. £6.40 (£5.40). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Freehand Theatre’s adaptation of the tale about the girl with the golden hair for ages 3–7. Puppet Animation Festival. Cloud Man Fri 22 Apr, 2pm. £6.40 (£4.50). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Search for a lesser-spotted Cloud Man. Ages 5+. Puppet Animation Festival.
Wolf Tales Sat 23 Apr, 2pm. £6.40 (£4.50). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Go backstage and hear the juicy tales of Mr BB Wolf, thespian and villain. Ages 5+. Puppet Animation Festival. Diving Belle Mon 25 Apr, 2pm. £6.40 (£4.50). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre dive into the magical world of Belle’s Carousel Cafe. Ages 4–7. Puppet Animation Festival.
OUTSIDE THE CITIES Theatre The Firebird Thu 31 Mar, 10.30am & 1.30pm; Fri 1 Apr, 10am & 6pm; Sat 2 Apr, 11am & 6pm; Tue 5–Sat 9 Apr, 2pm & 6pm. £12 (£6–£9). Dundee Rep, Tay Square, Dundee, 01382 223530. Neil Duffield’s powerful family play follows the adventures of Prince Ivan. Performed by members of the theatre’s resident ensemble. Charlie and Lola’s Best Bestest Play Tue 5–Wed 6 Apr, 11am, 1.30pm & 4pm. £10 (£9; family ticket £38). Macrobert, University of Stirling, Stirling. 01786 466666. See Glasgow, Theatre & Comedy and Hitlist.