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HITLIST Events are listed
THE BEST KIDS’ STUFF
Children’s Classic Concerts: Space Invaders The always entertaining Owen and Olly return, backed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, for some space-themed sounds. Expect filmic music from Close Encounters and ET, Holst’s Planets and a prize for the best outer space/alien costume (even the RSNO is dressing up!). Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sat 5 Nov; Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Sun 6 Nov.
Tramway Family Day: Hallowe’en The latest day-long family event from the Tramway crew, this time focussing on Hallowe’en fun. As usual, there’s a lively mix of participation and observation, with performances to watch and workshops and quizzes to join in. Tramway, Glasgow, Sun 30 Oct.
Inspiration Festival A packed programme of events for under 5s (Wee Inspiration) and ages 5-12 (Big Inspiration), featuring theatre, music, installations, workshops and more, all dotted around the city. See preview, right. Various venues, Glasgow, Mon 24 Oct–Fri 4 Nov.
African in Motion Children’s Day A fun introduction to African culture for families, with storytelling, screenings of animated and live action films, and a drumming and dancing workshop. See preview, page 76. Filmhouse and St Cuthbert’s Church, Edinburgh, Sat 5 Nov.
Kes Catherine Wheels theatre company bring Barry Hines’ well-loved book to the stage, using an innovative set and superb acting to convey the story of a teenage boy and his love for a kestrel. macrobert, Stirling, Fri 21 Oct; Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Tue 1 & Wed 2 Nov; Eastwood Park Theatre, Giffnock, Thu 3 Nov.
Fischy Music Master of the insanely catchy song Stephen Fischbacher launches his latest album at this singalong show for 5 to 11-year-olds. Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Mon 14 Nov.
Events are listed by city, then type. Submit listings at least 16 days before publication to kids@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Laura Ennor. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry
GLASGOW
Activities & Fun The Big Draw at the Tall Ship Thu 20 & Fri 21 Oct, noon. Included with admission £5 (£4.50; one child free per paying adult, additional children £3). The Tall Ship at Riverside, 150 Pointhouse Place, 357 3699. Art sessions for children and adults. Inflatable Sculptures Thu 20 Oct, 1–4.30pm. £8. Mugdock Country Park, Craigallion Road, Milngavie, 777 3090. Use everyday materials and a bit of hot air to make your own inflatable sculpture. Ages 8–11. FREE Dennistoun Drawing Lab Sat 22 & 29 Oct, noon–2pm. Market Gallery, 334 Duke Street, 556 7276. Free drawing classes for parents and small children. Notes of Fun Fri 21 Oct, 10–11am & 2–3pm (pre-schoolers), 11.30am–12.45pm (ages 5–8). £4–£5. Mugdock Country Park, Craigallion Road, Milngavie, 956 6100. Games, singing, laughter and percussion with a Hallowe’en theme. Little Explorers Holiday Session Fri 21 Oct, 1–1.50pm. £5. War Memorial Hall, 1 Balmuildy Road, Bishopbriggs, thecreationstation.co.uk The usual Little Explorers crafts sessions for tots expand to take in older siblings up to 11.
✽✽ Made By Me Sat 22 & Sun 23 Oct, 10–11.30am & 1.30–3pm. £3.
Trongate 103, 276 8380. Mini-builders, glaziers, joiners and artists are needed to help build a Pavilion for children in Glasgow. Ages 3–8. Part of Inspiration. Hallowe’en Masks Sat 22 Oct, noon–4pm. £20. Make It Glasgow, 3 Osborne Street, 07597 122809. Papier- mache mask workshop for adults and children. FREE Burrell for Families Sat 22 Oct, 2–4pm. Burrell Collection, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 287 2550. Join in with the creation of some giant art as part of the Big Draw. FREE Lights of Hope and Joy: Diwali Sat 22 & Sun 23 Oct, 2–4pm. St Mungo Museum, 2 Castle Street, 553 2557. Family workshop: make a greeting card or hanging star decoration. Spooktacular Hallowe’en Party Fri 28 Oct, 6.30pm. £5. Glasgow Science Centre, 50 Pacific Quay, 420 5000. Huge annual family party featuring animal encounters, fiery fun, slime classes and edible bugs. The Great Hallowe’en Puppet Making Workshops Sat 29 Oct, 10am & Sun 30 Oct, 2pm. £6.95. Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Make an extra creepy puppet. FREE The Big Draw Weekend: Wonky Carnival Sat 29 Oct, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–2.30pm; Sun 30 Oct, noon–2.30pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Balloon popping, piñata bashing, wonky drawing and more on a carnival theme for families.
✽✽ Day of Inspiration @ Platform Sat 29 Oct, 11am–2pm. Prices vary
(free–£5). Platform, The Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road, Easterhouse, 276 9696. A day of activities and fun with a Commonwealth theme. Part of Inspiration. FREE The Scream Machine Sat 29 & Sun 30 Oct, 11am & 2pm. Riverside Museum, 100 Pointhouse Place, 287 2660. Step into a darkened room and experience a spooky light display. Ages 7+.
✽✽ Photoforest Sat 29 Oct, noon. £3. House for an Art Lover, 10
Dumbreck Road, 353 4776. A fun photography workshop in the woods surrounding the House. Part of Inspiration.
✽✽ FREE Little Printers Family Fun Workshop Sat 29 Oct, 12.30–2pm. Glasgow Print Studio, Trongate 103, 552 0704. Bring along wrapping paper, magazine cuttings and other scraps to include in a mini book. Ages 7–12. Part of Inspiration. FREE Horrible Hallowe’en Sat 29 Oct, 1–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, 276 9300. Traditional Hallowe’en fun including pumpkin carving, apple dooking and ghostly stories.
✽✽ FREE Tramway Family Day: Hallowe’en Sun 30 Oct,
10am–4pm. Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, 0845 330 3501. A day of spooky creativity for babies to primary-schoolers and their families, with performances, workshops, quizzes and prizes for the best costumes.
✽✽ This Workshop Sucks Mon 31 Oct & Tue 1 Nov, 10.30am &
1.30pm. £3. Drumchapel Community Centre, Kinfauns Drive, 944 1009. Interactive workshop/performance for ages 3–5. Help build the world’s biggest vacuum cleaner. Part of Inspiration.
✽✽ Wild ‘n’ Creative Workshops Tue 1 & Wed 2 Nov, 10–11.30am &
1–2.30pm. £3 per child. Pollok Country Park, Pollokshaws Road, 276 0924. Arty workshops for ages 3–5. Wellies and waterproofs recommended. Part of Inspiration.
Kids
ARThouse Saturdays, 5 Nov–10 Dec, 10am (ages 5–7), 11.15am (ages 8–12) & 12.30pm (ages 12–15). £40–£50. House for an Art Lover, 10 Dumbreck Road, 353 4776. Art courses involving drawing, painting, printmaking, model-making and sculpture. FREE Clyde Creatures Sun 6 Nov, 11.30am–1pm & 2.30–4pm. Riverside Museum, 100 Pointhouse Place, 287 2660. Find out about the creatures that live in the Clyde, and make a clay model of an animal. FREE Burrell for Families Sat 12 Nov, 2–4pm. Burrell Collection, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 287 2550. Make felt jewellery and keyrings. Ages 5–12. Time Travellers Sat 12 Nov, 2pm. £2 (under 16s £1.50). Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Experience school life in the Victorian era, World War II and the swinging 60s. FREE Stealthy Stripes Sun 13 Nov, 1–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, 276 9300. Learn about animal camouflage then have a go at concealing yourself. Ages 5+.
Music ✽✽ The Farmer’s Cheese Sat 5 Nov, 2.30–3.10pm. £3 per child + adult.
City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. A musical adventure for hearing-impaired children. Ages 3–7. Part of Inspiration.
PREVIEW CHILDREN’S ARTS FESTIVAL WEE & BIG INSPIRATION FESTIVAL Various venues, Glasgow, Mon 24 Oct–Fri 4 Nov
Looking through the Big and Wee Inspiration Festival brochures, the first thing that strikes you is the range. From balletLORENT’s adventurous new dance work Underneath the Floorboards to light and video installation The Light Garden and a musical theatre version of Oliver Searle’s book The Farmer’s Cheese, neglected artforms are few and far between. ‘I try to give as broad a spectrum of the arts as possible,’ says festival
programmer Maggie Singleton, ‘to include dance and music and visual arts – as many different aspects as I can. The programme is a combination of things I’ve discovered that I’m really keen on, things that people bring to me – and sometimes just taking a chance on an exciting new development.’
Run by Glasgow Life, many of the events in the Big (ages 5-12) and Wee (under 5s) Inspiration Festivals are aimed at school and nursery groups, but there are also plenty of fun activities for families to enjoy. Sessions at the Burrell Collection, workshops at Platform and Glasgow Print Studio, and a ‘Day of Inspiration’ based on a Commonwealth theme are all on the cards, as well as some beautiful puppet theatre such as Clydebuilt’s Diving Belle (pictured). For Singleton, providing accessible, stimulating arts activities and
performances is about more than just entertainment. ‘I’ve always felt that these kind of experiences are crucial to children’s development,’ she says. ‘It can help them express their emotions and develop their language. It’s so important that children have the opportunity to participate in magical experiences, and things that could really influence and change the way they feel about things.’ (Kelly Apter) ■ For full details go to glagowlife.org.uk
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