Kids
HITLIST FREE Fabulous
THE BEST KIDS’ STUFF
Bank of Scotland Imaginate Festival With sixteen shows to choose from, catering for babes in arms right up to seventeen year olds, the Imaginate Festival really has got children’s theatre sewn up this year. As well as superb Scottish companies such as Visible Fictions, Wee Stories and Catherine Wheels, you’ll also find diverse international work such as Canadian circus guy Jamie Adkins (pictured), and the witty yet touching Miss Ophelia from Holland. Various venues, Edinburgh, Mon 9–Sun 15 May.
Tramway Family Day: Alice in Wonderland Lewis Carroll’s well-loved double-bill of books, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass are the inspiration behind this fun day of literary and dance events. See preview. Tramway, Glasgow, Sun 8 May.
The Presents The perfect introduction to theatre for tiny ones, this gentle show features a series of presents filled with live music, colour and sound specially designed for ages 02. Created by the always interesting Reeling & Writhing theatre company. Platform, Glasgow, Mon 16 & Tue 17 May.
Baby Loves Disco The days of late night clubbing may be behind most parents, but this afternoon of DJs, dancing, getting down and chilling out is the perfect replacement. So grab your 0-8-year- old and cut a rug. Electric Circus, Market Street, Sun 8 May.
Play-Along Concert with Kronos As part of its fantastic line-up of events in Glasgow, the Kronos Quartet presents this fun afternoon of participation and unusual instrument making (the lesser spotted ‘drumpet’). See feature, page 18. Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sun 15 May.
Easter Bonnets Sat 30 Apr, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. Museum of Childhood, 42 High Street, 529 4142. Good old fashioned fun inspired by costumes in the museum. FREE Flute ‘n’ Veg Sat 30 Apr, 2–5pm. St Cecilia’s Hall, Niddry Street, 668 2019. Which of us hasn’t secretly wanted to convert a radish into a clarinet, 66 THE LIST 28 Apr–26 May 2011
or a carrot into a kazoo? Head to Edinburgh University Musical Instrument Museum to learn the secrets of getting simple vegetables to make sounds. Rainbow Batik Cushions Sun 1 May, 11am–3pm. £6. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Paint a cushion with wax and vibrant inks. Ages 7+. FREE Art Cart Sun 1 May, 2–4pm. National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound, 624 6200. Activities inspired by works from the collection. Who’s Been Eating My Porridge? Mon 2 May, 10.30am–12.30pm. £4. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Take a picnic for this morning in the woods, making bear crafts and listening to stories. Kids Knit Tuesdays, 3 May–28 Jun, 4.45–6.15pm at Imagination Workshop, 136 Marchmont Road; Fridays, 6 May–1 Jul, 2.15–3.45pm or 4–5.30pm; 07799 686582. Call for prices. Beginner knitting classes for children: learn to make needles and felt, cast on and off, and knit garter stitch. Booking essential. Different Every Time: Electric Bugs Sat 7 May, 10am & 1pm & 3pm. £1. Our Dynamic Earth, Holyrood Road, 550 7800. A special crafting workshop for kids making snazzy little creatures to take home.
✽✽ Baby Loves Disco Sun 8 May, 2–5pm. £8 (non-walking babies free). Electric Circus, 36–39 Market Street, 07986 527947. A chance for kids aged 6 months–7 years (and their parents/friends) to get their respective grooves on, supplemented by bubble machines, instruments, a chillout zone, face-painting and healthy snacks. FREE Portrait Detectives! Sun 8 May, 2–4pm. National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound, 624 6200. Do the National Galleries a favour by solving some age-old mysteries from Scottish history, the answers to which are hidden in portraits. FREE New Looks: Sketching and Illustration Sun 8 May, 2–4pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. Workshop led by a professional artist for ages 14–18. Booking essential. FREE History, Art and Fun at the Edinburgh Cast Collection: Gods and Heroes Sat 14 May, 10am–noon. Edinburgh College of Art, 74 Lauriston Place, 221 6000. Imagine life as a Greek or Roman god, listen to stories and make a mask, shield or head dress. Part of the Festival of Museums. FREE It’s Raining Hats and Dogs at the City Art Centre Sat 14 May, 11am–12.30pm. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3993. Hats and dogs are the subjects of some of the centre’s most popular art works, celebrated here with a day of activities including hat- making, a hatwalk, and art talks. Part of the Festival of Museums. FREE City Critters Sat 14 May, 1–4pm. Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2979. Find out what you can do to help birds in your garden with fun family activities with RSPB Scotland. Storytelling sessions with Lari Don at 1.30pm and 3pm. FREE A Mad Hatters Tea Party Sun 15 May, 10am–1pm. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 336 2060. Family friendly silliness with plenty of tea and cake, plus puppet making, storytelling and a treasure hunt in the woods. Part of the Festival of Museums. FREE Bags of Art Sun 15 May, 2–4pm. Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 75 Belford Road, 624 6200. Explore the collections with a bag of fun activities. Ages 3–12. FREE A Renaissance Fashion Show Sun 15 May, 2–4pm. Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House 142 Canongate, 529 4143. A fashion show of all the hottest (400-year-old) fashions, followed by afternoon tea. Part of the Festival of Museums. Queen Victoria Visits the Castle Sat 21 & Sun 22 May, 10.30am–1pm &
PREVIEW CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL BANK OF SCOTLAND IMAGINATE FESTIVAL Various venues, Edinburgh, Mon 9–Sun 15 May
The Bank of Scotland Imaginate Festival has always featured quality children’s theatre from both home and abroad. But while international talent has never been in short supply, Scottish-based companies worthy of inclusion were initially thin on the ground. Twenty-two years after the Festival began, all that has changed, and of the sixteen works being presented, nine of them are by Scottish companies.
‘It’s been a very long journey,’ says Festival director, Tony Reekie. ‘When we first started, there wasn’t actually a lot of very good Scottish work being presented. So part of the reason for us becoming Imaginate, instead of just the Children’s Festival, was to implement year-round work that would encourage new artists to develop their own ways. And over the last few years a lot of the work being created in Scotland is simply world class, and absolutely holds its own against the international work we’re able to bring in.’
One of the key skills of a festival programmer is the ability to mix
things up a little – something Reekie has clearly done with this year’s programme. The diverse line-up includes surefire winners such as Tall Stories’ Mr Benn and Wee Stories’ Macbeth-inspired Is This a Dagger?, along with more abstract works like The Legend of Woesterdam, set in the beautiful grounds of the Cammo Estate.
‘I think that any festival needs to have moments where, as a
programmer, you’re slightly terrified about what’s going to happen,’ says Reekie. ‘If it becomes really safe, I’m not sure why it needs to be a festival. There’s nothing wrong with going to a show and having a nice time, but if you can have a nice time and perhaps be taken to a place you never thought you’d go, then it strikes me that’s something we should all be striving to offer an audience.’ (Kelly Apter)
1.45–3.45pm. £14 as part of castle admission (£11.20; children £8.20). Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, 225 9846. Queen Victoria pays a return visit to Edinburgh Castle (her last was in 1886). Find out what she makes of it now at this living history event in the Great Hall. Living Lauriston 1910 Sat 21 May, 2pm & 3pm. £5 (children £3). Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Travel back in time to the Edwardian period and meet Mr and Mrs Reid and their staff. Nature Detectives Sun 22 May, 10.30am–12.30pm. £4. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Hunt for bugs and creepy crawlies in the grounds at Lauriston. FREE Free Family Fun at the Education Cabin Mon 23 May, 11am–3pm. Seafield Community Recycling Centre, Fillyside Road, 469 5070. There’s plenty to keep all ages busy