Kids
✽✽ Aye Write! Sat 10, Sun 11 & Sat 17 Mar, 11am–3pm. £3 per event.
Mitchell Library, North Street, 287 2999. Glasgow’s book festival hosts a number of events for young readers from babies up to the age of 12, including a sing- along session with the Sticky Kids, fun with mischievous pup Kipper, fairy tales bingo and a Sherlock Holmes-themed adventure game.
Music ✽✽ Children’s Classic Concerts: Bang On! Sat 10 Mar, 2pm. £3
(children £2). Drumchapel Community Centre, Kinfauns Drive, 944 1009. Owen and Olly inspire young minds with captivating rhythms created by plastic bags, junk and other household goods in a noisy, funny show. See photo caption. The Singing Kettle: Shake, Rattle and Roll Sun 18 Mar, noon & 3.30pm. £12 (£9; family £44). SECC, Finnieston Quay, 0844 395 4000. Join Cilla, Artie, Gary and Kevin to make a right old racket – bang on a homemade instrument to accompany all the old favourites like ‘Music Man’ and ‘Ants Went Marching’.
Theatre, Dance & Comedy Kidgloves Puppets Sat 3 Mar, 2pm & Sun 4 Mar, 3pm. £5.95 (children £4.95). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Beautifully crafted puppets and charming silliness in these two fairytale mash-up shows. Ages 3+.
✽✽ Glasgow Kids Comedy Club Sun 4 Mar, 18 & 25 Mar, 3pm. £4. The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. Live comedy for younger fans, particularly those aged 8–12. No under 5s; all kids must be accompanied by an adult. With Billy Kirkwood, Julia Sutherland and Rob Kane (4 Mar), and special Glasgow Comedy Festival guests (18 & 25 Mar & 1 Apr). The Attic Thu 8 Mar, 11.30am & 2pm. £2.50. Platform, The Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road, Easterhouse, 276 9696. Grandma and Lucy sort through all the memories in the attic in this imaginative show for little ones aged 3–5. But what happens when the sleepy room comes to life? Presented by Starcatchers. Family Storytime Rare Tales Season Sat 10 & Sun 11 Mar; Sat 24 & Sun 25 Mar, 10.30am & 12.30pm. £5 (under 2s free; family £15). Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, 552 3988. Interactive storytelling theatre based on some lesser-known fairy tales, aimed at under 7s and their families. Hear the stories of ‘The Precious Stove’ (10 & 11 Mar) and ‘Seven At One Blow’ (24 & 25 Mar). Early booking advised. The Paperbag Princess Sat 10 Mar, 2pm. £5.95 (children £4.95). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Pavla’s Puppets presents this tale of a princess and her encounter with the dragon who has burned down her castle and nicked her prince. Ages 3+. The Snail and the Whale Tue 13 Mar, 10.30am & 1.30pm. £7.50 (£5.50). Eastwood Park Theatre, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, 577 4970. A new piece of theatre created in Tall Stories’ charming storytelling style with live music and plenty of laughs. Ages 4+.
✽✽ Jango’s Extravaganza Sat 17 Mar, 2pm. £5.95 (children £4.95). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. A funny family hour of entertainment with slapstick, juggling, magic and balloons. Ages 3+. Part of Glasgow Comedy Festival.
✽✽ Mr Punch Comes to the Comedy Festival Sat 24 Mar, 2pm. £5.95 (children £4.95). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. A show featuring the angry little man with a quick right hook and a mean aim with some sausages, celebrating his 350th birthday with full fury and his constant companions Judy, the Crocodile and the
78 THE LIST 1–29 Mar 2012
Children’s Classic Concert - Bang On!
Film ✽✽ The Lion King Sun 4 Mar, 10am–1pm. £4 (includes craft
activities; £2.50 extra for a kids’ lunch). Ghillie Dhu, 2 Rutland Place, 222 9930. Family ‘Reel Cinema’ screening of this classic Disney film with its impeccable animation, jolly songs and colourful characters. Seating is on comfy sofas and benches and throughout the film there are arts and crafts, colouring and face painting. Pub grub on offer for the adults.
Music Happy Ears Sat 3 & 17 Mar, 10am. £5 per session or £20 for a block of five. Calton Centre, 121 Montgomery Street, 661 0880. Music group for dads and male carers and their 0–18-month-olds, giving mum the chance for a quiet lie in.
✽✽ Sea Stories and Songs from Scotland Sun 11 Mar, 2pm &
3pm. Suggested donation £3. John Hope Gateway Centre, Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Two sessions of songs and storytelling for kids, with ages 10 and under at 2pm and 10+ at 3pm. Singer/storyteller Lea Taylor and clarsach player/storyteller Heather Yule provide songs and stories from the Highlands and islands. Theatre & Dance The Attic Tue 13 Mar, 1.15pm. £6.50 (family £24). Brunton Theatre, Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, 665 2240. See Glasgow, Theatre, Dance & Comedy. Funnybones Sat 24 Mar, 2pm. £6.50 (family £24). Brunton Theatre, Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, 665 2240. Puppet Lab presents Janet and Allan Ahlberg’s fun story of three skeletons: one big, one little and one that goes woof. Ages 3–7.
OUTSIDE THE CITIES Activities & Fun Nature Nippers Thu 1 Mar, 10am. £2 per child; admission to house £11.50 (£8.50). Newhailes, Newhailes Road, Musselburgh, 0844 493 2125. A chance for under 5s to explore the natural world, with things to make and games to play. Wellies and warm waterproof clothes are a must. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Next session on Thu 5 Apr. Fife Science Festival Fri 9–Sun 18 Mar, times vary. Most events free. Various venues, Fife, 01382 868609. A look at the past and the future of science in Fife, from notable experts and advances developed in the area to how science and technology are helping preserve Fife’s heritage, both natural and cultural. Events include a discovery day at the University of St Andrews and an exciting demonstration of the science of gunpowder and firearms at St Andrews Castle on Sat 10 Mar and a family fun day at Dundee Science Centre on Sun 18 Mar. Books FREE Book Bug Sessions Thu 8 Mar & 22 Mar, 11.15am. Paisley Museum & Art Gallery, High Street, Paisley, 887 1010. Music, rhymes and stories for children aged up to 4 and their parents. Words Alive!: Jackie Kay Sat 17 Mar, 11.30am. £5 (£2–£3). Byre Theatre, Abbey Street, St Andrews, 01334 475000. Lively reading for families with kids aged 8+. Part of StAnza.
Music Playdays! @ the museum Tue 6 & Thu 29 Mar, 10.30am. £2 per adult (children free). Paisley Museum & Art Gallery, High Street, Paisley, 887 1010. A movement and dance session for pre- schoolers and their parents/carers. Places limited. Ages 6 months+. Theatre & Dance Potato Needs a Bath Sat 24 Mar, 2pm. £6. Paisley Arts Centre, New Street, Paisley, 887 1010. A gentle and original show aimed at 3–6 year olds all about a potato who’s got mud on his face and needs a bath. Part of the Puppet Animation Festival.
Using a combination of musical instruments and household goods, Children’s Classic Concert’s enthusiastic duo Owen and Olly present this fun percussion concert for all the family. Audience participation is very much on the cards but don’t worry, if anybody’s going to make a fool of themselves, it will be your amiable hosts. See website for full tour dates: childrensclassicconcerts.co.uk ■ Drumchapel Community Centre, Glasgow, Sat 10 Mar.
Policeman. Part of Glasgow Comedy Festival.
✽✽ Little Howard’s Big Show Sat 24 Mar, 2.30pm. £13.50. King’s
Theatre, 297 Bath Street, 0844 871 7648. Little Howard (he’s a cartoon) and his sidekick Big Howard (he’s not) present a new show featuring their songs, sketches and magic. Part of Glasgow Comedy Festival.
EDINBURGH Activities & Fun Street & Hip Hop Thursdays until 29 Mar, 4pm. £4 (£1.50). Dance Base, 14–16 Grassmarket, 225 5525. Street dance for ages 7–12, working from the idea that the most important part of hip hop culture is how you express yourself. FREE Dads Rock Saturdays, 10am. Gate 55, 55 Sighthill Road, 07813 461571. Playgroup for dads and their kids aged 0–4, with games, creative bits and bobs, snacks, stories and ‘rocking out’. Rugrat Rumpus Saturdays until 17 Mar, 10am. £4 (£1.50). Dance Base, 14–16 Grassmarket, 225 5525. Dance class for toddlers with Claricia Kruithof and Gemma Williams. FREE Sail the Seven Seas Model Boats Sat 3 Mar, 10.30am–12.30pm or 1.30pm–3.30pm. Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate, 529 4143. Build a sailing boat and fill it with cargo from around the world, learning about Edinburgh’s role as a trading port as you go. For families with kids aged 5+. Creative Dance Saturdays until 17 Mar, 11am. £4 (£1.50). Dance Base, 14–16 Grassmarket, 225 5525. Pre- school dance class aiming to build co- ordination, balance, and awareness. Dance ’n’ Play Wednesdays until 21 Mar, 10.45am & 11.45am. £3.50 (£1.50). Dance Base, 14–16 Grassmarket, 225 5525. Playful approaches to dance for toddlers with Claricia Kruithof and Gemma Williams.
Queen Victoria Visits the Castle Sat 17 & Sun 18 Mar, 10.30am–1pm & 1.45pm–3.45pm. Castle admission:£14 (£11; 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, which takes place in the Great Hall. FREE Wild and Wonderful World of Scottish Plants Sat 17 & Sun 18 Mar, 1pm–4pm. John Hope Gateway Centre, Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Explore the plants, mosses, lichens and fungi that make up the flora of Scotland. Ages 5+. FREE Children’s Spring Flower Show Sat 24 & Sun 25 Mar, 11am–5pm. John Hope Gateway Centre, Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. In association with the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society, this show features a children’s eco-daffodil competition, floral displays and lots of hands-on activities. Books & Storytelling FREE Vicky Campbell: Viking Gold Thu 15 Mar, 6.30pm. Central Library, George IV Bridge, 242 8100. Vicky Campbell reads from her gory action adventure, Viking Gold, and talks about life in the Dark Ages. Ages 10+. Tiny Tales Tue 20 Mar, 10am & 11.30am. £6 per child (accompanying adults free). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 228 1155. Join Sylvia Troon and her garden fairyfolk for songs, rhymes and springtime adventures. For children aged six months to two years. Part of Ceilidh Culture. The Coming of the Unicorn Thu 22 Mar, 7pm. £5 (£3). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 228 1155. Launch event for Duncan Williamson’s posthumous collection of folk and fairy tales for children, collected from the traditions of the travelling people, as well as the crofters, farmers, and shepherds he met along the way. Ages 8+. Part of Ceilidh Culture.