Kids
HITLIST THE BEST KIDS’ STUFF
Family Percussion Workshop Percussion classes for kids and adults as part of Celtic Connections. Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sat 21 Jan.
Portrait Detectives See preview. Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh, Sun 15 Jan.
The BIG Breakthrough Karine Polwart joins some wee vocalists from the BIG Project in Broomhouse for an Olympic- themed sing-a-long extravaganza. City Halls, Glasgow, Mon 23 Jan.
Burns in the City! Stories, singing, poetry and fun. Visit storytellingcentre.co.uk for full Burns events listings. Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, Sat 28 Jan.
Glasgow Kids Comedy Club The Stand gives the younger generation a chance to enjoy stand-up comedy (providing they’re over 5 and have an adult with them). The Stand, Glasgow, Sun 8 Jan
Sleeping Beauty Treasure Trail Free treasure trail around the museum ahead of Scottish Ballet’s fairytale production. National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, until Sun 15 Jan.
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 ARThouse Saturdays, 14 Jan–31 Mar, 10–11am (ages 5–7) & 11.15am–12.15pm (ages 8–12). £75 for a 12-week course. House for an Art Lover, Bellahouston Park, 10 Dumbreck Road, 353 4776. Varied and fun art workshops. Little Explorer Days Sun 15 Jan, 10am–2pm. £7.95 per adult + child pair. Glasgow Science Centre, 50 Pacific Quay, 420 5000. Activities and fun themed around the human body, for ages 3–5. This Workshop Sucks Fri 20 Jan, 10.30am & 1.30pm; Sat 21 Jan, 11am. £4.50. Eastwood Park Theatre, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, 577 4970. Interactive hoover-based workshop/performance for ages 3–5. FREE Lantern Making Sat 21 & Sun 22 Jan, 10.30am–12.30pm. Millennium Hotel, George Square, 332 6711. How to make a Chinese lantern. Ages 8–14. Part of Takeaway China. 72 THE LIST 5 Jan–2 Feb 2012
✽✽ Kids’ Percussion Workshops Sat 21 & Sun 22 Jan, 11–11.45am
(ages 4–7) and noon–12.45pm (ages 8–12). £4 (accompanying adults free). Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. Big Groove- led kids’ percussion class. Booking essential. Part of Celtic Connections.
✽✽ Family Percussion Workshop Sat 21 Jan, 1.30–3pm. £7. Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. Samba percussion workshop for ages 9+. Part of Celtic Connections. Dandling: On Yer Mammy’s Knee Sun 29 Jan, 11am–12.30pm. £7. Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. Traditional Scots songs and singing games workshop for parents and childminers. Part of Celtic Connections. FREE T Rooms: Visual Art Event Sun 29 Jan, 1–4pm. Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, 0845 330 3501. Construction and creation event for 12–17-year-olds inspired by the current Matthew Darbyshire exhibition. See feature, page 105. Lullabies: Sing a Song of Sleep Sun 29 Jan, 1.30–3pm. £7. Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. Gaelic and traditional songs for sleepy time. Babies welcome. Part of Celtic Connections. FREE Early Years Symposium Tue 31 Jan, 10am–4.30pm. Eastwood Park Theatre, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, 577 4970. A symposium for parents or anyone working with infants, exploring how the arts can play a key role in child development. Booking essential.
Music ✽✽ The BIG Breakthrough Mon 23 Jan, 7pm. £13 (under 14s free). City
Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. Karine Polwart joins some wee vocalists from the BIG Project in Broomhouse for an Olympic-themed sing-a-long.
Theatre, Dance & Comedy Little Ulla Until Sat 7 Jan, 11.30am & 2pm. £6.50–£7.50. Citizens Theatre, 119 Gorbals Street, 429 0022. Last chance to catch this Christmas show for little ones aged 3–5, with puppetry, interactive storytelling and music. Glasgow Kids Comedy Club Sun 8 Jan, 3pm. £4. The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. Live comedy for younger fans, particularly those aged 8–12. This month Ray Bradshaw is in charge. No under 5s allowed; all kids must be accompanied by an adult. Head in the Clouds Thu 2 Feb, 10.30am & 1.30pm. £4.50. Eastwood Park Theatre, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, 577 4970. Ipdip Theatre show all about the world of the sky. Ages 0–3.
EDINBURGH
Activities & Fun FREE Super Shops and Towering Townhouses Sat 7 Jan, 10.30am–12.30pm or 1.30–3.30pm. Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate, 529 4143. Create a model shop or house and fill it with tiny furniture. Ages 5+. FREE Art Cart Sun 8 Jan, 2–4pm. Scottish National Gallery, The Mound, 624 6200. Artist-led activities for all the family. FREE Fancy a Henna Tattoo with a Celtic Twist? Sat 14 & 21 Jan, 2–4pm. Scottish National Gallery, The Mound, 624 6200. Get a henna (i.e. temporary) tattoo inspired by the Celtic artwork of George Bain. Ages 6+.
✽✽ FREE Portrait Detectives! Sun 15 Jan, 2–4pm. Scottish National
Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, 624 6200. See preview. FREE Stickman and the Winter Trees Sat 21 & Sun 22 Jan, 12.30–3.30pm. Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Workshop teaching the basics of winter tree identification and stickman-making. Ages 5+.
PREVIEW GALLERY EVENT PORTRAIT DETECTIVES Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh, Sun 15 Jan
Under wraps for the past two and a half years, the newly re-opened Scottish National Portrait Gallery cuts quite a dash. But for younger visitors, the wow factor generated by a £17 million spend can be hard to see. Which is why events like Portrait Detectives are so important. Held
once a month for two hours on a Sunday afternoon, this drop-in affair is a lo-fi, old school way to enjoy art – but works perfectly. It’s also, like the gallery itself, completely free. On the surface, this imposing historic building can appear a little
austere – a place where children should be seen and not heard. But nothing shakes up a preconception like a little dressing up, and before children can even attempt to solve the mystery of the month, they’ve got to look the part. Handed a kit bag on arrival, containing a Sherlock Holmes-style hat,
magnifying glass, pencil case and false moustache, participants are encouraged – but not required – to get into the detective spirit. Suitably clad, young sleuths set off around the room, attempting to locate the painting from which the small segments on their hand-out derive.
Could it be the wig of a nobleman, a sash worn by a queen or the
sporran of a soldier? As my nine-year-old companion, Nancy Donaldson (pictured) discovered, it isn’t always obvious, but studying each picture to find out was ‘lots of fun’. It’s also a great conversation starter, with key figures from Scotland’s past and present – from Adam Smith and David Hume to Susan Boyle and John Byrne – looming down at you and just begging to be talked about. (Kelly Apter)
FREE Tiny Puppet People Sat 28 Jan, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. Museum of Childhood, 42 High Street, 529 3963. Perform your own play with finger puppets you’ve made yourself. Ages 5+. Books & Storytelling FREE Story Time Tue 10 & 17 Jan, 2–2.30pm. Waterstone’s, 98/9 Ocean Terminal, Ocean Drive, Leith, 554 7732. Find out how a bear got his hat back on Tue 10 Jan, and how Aliens in Underpants Save the World on Tue 17 Jan. FREE Children’s Book Group Thu 12 Jan, 5–6pm. The Edinburgh Bookshop, 219 Bruntsfield Place, 447 1917. A book club for kids aged 8–15. FREE Talking Trees Storytelling Sun 15 Jan, 2–3.30pm. John Hope Gateway Centre, Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Storytelling for adults and ages 5+. FREE The Blackwell Children’s Book Group Mon 16 Jan, 6pm. Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. An hour of friendly chat about books for 8–11 year olds. Tiny Tales Tue 17 Jan, 10am & 11.30am. £6 per child (accompanying adult free). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. A Burnsfest special with Rabbie’s stories told by Claire McNicol. Ages 6 months to 3 years. Part of Burnsfest. Stories in the Forgotten Forest Sat 21 & Sun 22 Jan, 11.30am–1.45pm. £3. Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. An informal storytelling session with the Talking Trees Storytellers.
Burns in the City! Sat 28 Jan, 10.30–11.30am. £5 (£3). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Stories, songs, poems and laughter for ages 5+ with Tim Porteous. Part of Burnsfest. FREE Meet the Ancestors: Winter Stargazing Sun 29 Jan, 2pm, 2.40pm & 3.20pm. Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, 624 6200. Wintry storytelling inspired by the northern constellations. Ages 3–12.
Theatre & Dance ✽✽ FREE Sleeping Beauty Treasure Trail Until Sun 15 Jan,
10am–5pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. Free treasure trail around the museum ahead of Scottish Ballet’s fairytale production. White Tue 24 Jan, 10am & 1.30pm. £6 (family ticket £22). Brunton Theatre, Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, 665 2240. Charming show for toddlers aged 0–4. Rabbie as a Laddie Sat 28 Jan, 2–3pm. £5 (£3). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Storytelling theatre and puppetry for everyone aged 8+. Part of Burnsfest.
OUTSIDE THE CITIES Theatre & Dance Ring-a-Ding-Ding Tue 17–Sat 21 Jan, 11am & 2pm (not Sat). £7 (family £25). macrobert, University of Stirling, 01786 466666. Interactive, multi-sensory show for little ones aged 3–6.