list.co.uk/kids Zorro
N O S T R E B O R S A L G U O D
: O T O H P
In case you didn’t know, the word ‘zorro’ is Spanish for ‘fox’, and that’s exactly what this cunning fictional hero does – fox those around him, not just with his deeds but his entire persona. Starting life as a serial in a 1920s US magazine, the tales of Zorro have turned up in books, film, TV and in this instance, the stage. First adapted by Visible Fictions in 2009, Zorro is back, complete with a dynamic new set design that shifts the action between 2D and 3D. ‘I’ve always been intrigued by the character of Zorro,’ says the show’s director, Douglas Irvine, ‘because underneath his swashbuckling antics his identity is complex and mysterious. And if you combine this intriguing justice-seeking hero with a fast-paced adventure story, complete with thrills, spills and romance, it’s the perfect family experience.’ ■ Scottish Youth Theatre, Glasgow, Mon 27–Wed 29 Feb.
✽✽ Zorro Mon 27 & Tue 28 Feb, 1.30pm & 7.30pm, Wed 29 Feb,
10.30am. £8 (£6). Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, 552 4267. See caption.
EDINBURGH Activities & Fun FREE Decorative Printing Sat 4 Feb, 10.30am–12.30pm or 1.30–3.30pm. Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate, 529 4143. Create a relief print using styrofoam. FREE Art Cart Sun 5 Feb, 2–4pm. Scottish National Gallery, The Mound, 624 6200. Artist-led art activities for all. FREE Dads Rock Saturdays, 10–11.30am. Gate 55, 55 Sighthill Road, 07813 461571. See preview, page 78. Fascinating Mummies: Unwrap a Mummy Sat 11–Sun 19 Feb, 10.30am–4.30pm. £3 per child (accompanying adult free). National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. Combine ancient history with detective work and unwrap a mummy to find out how they died. Ages 7+. Half- hourly sessions lasting 45 minutes are available throughout each day. FREE Portrait Detectives! Sun 12 Feb, 2–4pm. Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, 624 6200. Do the National Galleries a favour by solving some age-old mysteries from Scottish history, the answers to which are contained within some of the portraits on display. Farmers Helpers Workshops Mon 13–Fri 17 Feb, 10am–12.30pm. £7 per session. Gorgie City Farm, 51 Gorgie Road, 337 4202. Hands-on farm work sessions for ages 8–12, with plenty of opportunities to get up close to the animals. Booking essential. FREE Mrs Doig’s City of Genius Sat 18 Feb, 11am, noon, 2pm & 3pm. Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, 624 6200. Mrs Doig opens the lid on the dirty laundry of the Edinburgh Enlightenment. FREE National Costumes from Across the World Sat 25 Feb, 10.30am–12.30pm or 1.30–3.30pm. Museum of Childhood, 42 High Street,
529 3963. Make a wardrobe of costumes for a special paper doll, inspired by the museum’s own doll collection. Ages 5+. FREE Meet the Ancestors: Rebellious Rogues and Drama Queens Sun 26 Feb, 2–4pm. Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, 624 6200. Discover the world of the Stuarts, using costumes, props and your imagination. Ages 3–12. Books & Storytelling The Story Kist: Inclusive Storytelling Sat 11 Feb, 11am–noon. £5 (family £16). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Interactive stories and games from Ailie Finlay and Marie Louise Cochrane, for children with additional needs and their families. Tiny Tales Tue 14 Feb, 10–10.30am or 11.30am–12.10pm. £6. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Valentine’s-themed storytelling session with Maria Cairnie. Ages 6 months to 2 years. Greyfriars Bobby Thu 16 Feb, 11–11.45am. £6. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Poppy Brown and his puppets tell the story of the loyal wee dug. Ages 4–8. FREE Caddie Capers Thu 16 & Fri 17 Feb, 11am & 2pm. Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, 624 6200. A fun-filled session of storytelling taking you back to Georgian Edinburgh. Ages 5+. You and Me . . . to the Sea! Fri 17 Feb, 10.30–11.10am. £5 (£3). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Meet fishermen, selkies and all sorts of undersea creatures at this session of stories and songs from Lea Taylor and Heather Yule. Ages 7+. LGBT Families Day: Storytelling for Children Sat 18 Feb, 2–3pm. £5. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. An event open to all children (not just those from LGBT families) aged 5–8, with stories exploring the diverse types of LGBT family in a child-friendly way. Part of LGBT History Month. FREE Talking Trees Storytelling Sun 19 Feb, 2–3.30pm. John Hope Gateway Centre, Royal Botanic Garden,
20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Talking Trees storytelling returns to transport adults and children alike to a magical land far, far away. Ages 5+. FREE The Blackwell Children’s Book Group Mon 20 Feb, 5.45pm. Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. An hour of friendly chat about books for 8–11 year olds.
Music The Singing Kettle: Fancy Dress Party Sun 12 Feb, noon & 3pm. £13 (family £48; under 2s £2). Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. Cilla, Artie, Gary and Kevin rummage through their costume box to dress up for some fun songs and games. Join in the fun by getting dressed up in your favourite fancy dress outfit.
✽✽ Baby Loves Disco Family Valentine’s Party Sun 12 Feb, 2–5pm. £8 (non walking babies free). Electric Circus, 36–39 Market Street, 07986 527947. Valentine’s Day special for junior groovers aged 6 months to 7 years and their parents. Boogie to disco and pop and enjoy healthy snacks, dressing up, a chill out area and face painting.
Theatre & Dance ✽✽ Swallows and Amazons Thu 2–Sat 4 Feb, 7pm (Thu & Sat mat 3pm). £17–£24 (£14–£21; family £60; children £8.50–£12). Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. Arthur Ransome’s classic tale of children on boats is brought to life as an action-packed musical with music from Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy.
✽✽ Robin and the Big Freeze Tue 14 Feb, 11am & 2.30pm. £6.50
(family £24). Brunton Theatre, Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, 665 2240. See Glasgow, Theatre, Dance & Comedy.
OUTSIDE THE CITIES
Activities & Fun The First Tingles of Spring Sat 11–Mon 20 Feb, 10am–5pm. Included in admission: £5.50 (children £4; seniors £4; family £17). Almond Valley Heritage Centre, Millfield, Livingston, 01506 414957. Create snowdrop hats and seedy bird feeders. Cold War Experience Sat 11–Sun 19 Feb, 10am–5pm. Included in admission: £9.50 (£7.50; children £4; under 5s free; family £24). National Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, North Berwick, 0300 123 6789. A little light historical fun for the February holidays as the National Museum of Flight takes you back 50 years to the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis to experience daily life during the Cold War.
✽✽ Nature Nippers Thu 1 Mar, 10–11am. Children £2. Newhailes,
Newhailes Road, Musselburgh, 0844 493 2125. A chance for under 5s to explore the natural world via crafts and games.
Music Children’s Classic Concerts: Sticks and Strings Sun 12 Feb, 3–4pm. £10.50 (children £6.50). Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, Perth, 01738 621031. Interactive concert with Owen and Olly, who this time are looking at violins, vibraphones, bongos, guitars and basses.
Theatre & Dance Jason and the Argonauts Fri 3 & Sat 4 Feb, 1pm & 7.30pm. £8 (£7; under 18s £5). Cumbernauld Theatre, Kildrum, Cumbernauld, 01236 732887. An irreverent take on the ancient Greek myth with Action Men Argonauts and a very special dragon guarding the golden fleece. Presented by Visible Fictions. Ages 9+. Licketyleap Thu 16 & Fri 17 Feb, 11am & 3pm. £12 per adult + child pair (extra adult tickets £10; extra child tickets £6). Byre Theatre, Abbey Street, St Andrews, 01334 475000. Interactive theatre experience from Licketyspit for ages 3-5. Each participating child must be accompanied by an adult; additional
Kids
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THE BEST KIDS’ STUFF
The Boy and the Bunnet Originally performed in Gaelic, when it premiered last autumn, this Scots version is being dubbed a folk Peter and the Wolf, introducing youngsters to a range of different instruments. And the lovely Gerda Stevenson narrates. Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Fri 3 Feb & Sat 4 Feb. Swallows and Amazons Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy provides lyrics and music for this charming, funny and thoroughly engaging stage adaptation of Arthur Ransome’s adventure tale. See review on list.co.uk. Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Thu 2–Sat 4 Feb.
Zorro Swashbuckling fun from the always inventive, never dull Visible Fictions theatre company. Catch it now, on the show’s only Scottish date before it heads to Broadway. See photo caption. Scottish Youth Theatre, Glasgow, Mon 27 & Tue 28 Feb.
Baby Loves Disco Family Valentine’s Party This popular clubbing afternoon for 0-7-year-olds and their up-for-it parents has been going long enough for us to know that baby does indeed love disco. But with a Valentine’s Day special on the cards, he/she should really love it. Electric Circus, Edinburgh, Sun 12 Feb.
Robin and the Big Freeze All the other birds are using their satnavs to beat a path to warmer climbs. But not Robin – he’s got Christmas cards to pose for and tweets to tweet – what will happen when the snow comes? Find out in this show by Brighton-based Unpacked Theatre, for ages 4+ and their families. Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, Tue 14 Feb; Eastwood Park Theatre, Giffnock, Wed 15 Feb.
welcome, but they will only be able to watch, not join in. Performance followed by a drink and snack, and a drawing session. The Attic Fri 24 Feb, 11.30am & 2pm. £7. macrobert, University of Stirling, 01786 466666. See Glasgow, Theatre, Comedy & Dance. 2 Feb–1 Mar 2012 THE LIST 79