Kids
Galoshins Sat 21 Apr, 2pm. £5.95 (children £4.95). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. A traditional Scots mumming play, with sword fighting and miracles aplenty. Ages 3+. See feature, page 28.
EDINBURGH Activities & Fun ✽✽ Edinburgh International Science Festival at the
National Museum of Scotland Fri 30 Mar–Sun 15 Apr, 10am–5pm. Prices vary (free–£3.50). National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. The museum hosts a series of events, themed around human movement – in sport, technology and dance – and other events from chemistry trails to video game design workshops.
✽✽ Edinburgh International Science Festival at the Royal
Botanic Garden Sat 31 Mar–Mon 9 Apr, 10am-5pm. Prices vary (free–£5). Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2909. ‘Science on a Plate’ is the theme here, with activities exploring food and where it comes from. Meet a chocolatier, find out how milk gets from the cow to your fridge, and take part in a Junior Chef Challenge.
✽✽ Edinburgh International Science Festival at the City
Dynamic Earth, Holyrood Road, 0844 557 2686. Walk Salisbury Crags and discover how they inspired the scientific discoveries of James Hutton. Ages 8+. Part of EISF. FREE Easter Family Fun Day Sun 1 Apr, 2–5pm. The Granary, 32–34 The Shore, Leith, 554 9465. With face painting, egg decorating, a magician and cartoons. Ages 3–10. Hip Hop School: Easter Mon 2–Fri 6 Apr, 9.30am–3.30pm. £97.50 for the week. Dance Base, 14–16 Grassmarket, 225 5525. A week of hip-hop culture for kids aged 7–9 and 10–12, with a chance to try street dance, video production, music and photography. Booking essential. Farmers Helpers Workshops Mon 2–Fri 6 & Mon 9–Fri 13 Apr, 10am–12.30pm. £7 per session. Gorgie City Farm, 51 Gorgie Road, 337 4202. Get up close to the animals. Ages 8–12. Booking essential. Junior Downton Abbey Experience Mon 2 Apr, 10.30am–12.30pm. £4. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Prepare lemonade and biscuits with cook in the kitchen before transforming into a Lord or Lady of the manor and touring the upstairs rooms. Booking essential. See feature, page 28. Easter Eggs Mon 2 Apr,
Art Centre Sat 31 Mar-Sat 14 Apr (not Sun), 9.30am–4.30pm. Day Pass: Adults £6.90 (concession £5.50; children aged 7+ £8.90; under 7s £6.50; under 3s free). City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3993. A day pass grants access to a host of fun scientific activities for children. Unwrap an ancient mummy, hunt some monsters via CCTV, concoct fake blood and dig up a dinosaur.
✽✽ FREE Street Science Sat 31 Mar & Sun 1 Apr, Sat 7 & Sun 8 Apr, 10am-4pm. Various venues, Edinburgh, 0844 557 2686. Bike-borne street science with explosions, liquid nitrogen and more. Part of EISF. Easter Eggs Sat 31 Mar, Sat 7 & 14 Apr, 10am, 1pm & 3pm. £1 if booked in advance; normal admission also applies. Our Dynamic Earth, Holyrood Road, 550 7800. Learn about the seasons then create an Easter basket. Online booking essential. Ages 6–14. FREE All in a Spin! Sat 31 Mar, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. Museum of Childhood, 42 High Street, 529 3963. Make a brightly-coloured spinning top. Ages 5+.
✽✽ Going Native Sat 31 Mar–Thu 5 Apr, 11am–3pm. Included in
admission. Edinburgh Zoo, Corstorphine Road, 0844 557 2686. Meet Scotland’s native animal species. Part of EISF.
✽✽ Snowball Earth: The Big Freeze Sat 31 Mar–Wed 11 Apr,
11–11.30am, 1.30–2pm & 3–3.30pm. Included in admission or £2 for event only. Our Dynamic Earth, Holyrood Road, 0844 557 2686. Find out about the big freeze that Earth underwent 640 million years ago. Ages 8+. Part of EISF. FREE The Future’s Bright Sat 31 Mar–Sun 15 Apr, 11am–5pm. Ocean Terminal, Leith, 0844 557 2686. Energy- conscious and fun activities for families. Living Lauriston 1910: Mangles, Mops and Feather Dusters Sat 31 Mar, 2pm & 3pm. £5 (children £3; family £12.50). Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 336 2060. Travel back to Edwardian times. FREE Watch Out Toads About Sun 1, Sat 7 & Sun 8 Apr, 8–10am. Holyrood Park, 652 8150. Help the park rangers aid the toads’ migration across Holyrood’s roads. Booking essential.
✽✽ Best of Scottish Science Sun 1 Apr, noon–5pm; Mon 2–Wed 4 Apr,
10am–5pm. Included in admission. Our Dynamic Earth, Holyrood Road, 0844 557 2686. Interactive science exhibits. Part of EISF.
✽✽ In the Footsteps of Giants Sun 1, Tue 3 & Thu 5–Sat 7 Apr,
2–4.30pm. £10 (£8; children £4). Our
78 THE LIST 29 Mar–26 Apr 2012
CHILDREN’S SHOW CBEEBIES LIVE: REACH TO THE STARS Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, Wed 4 & Thu 5 Apr
If enthusiasm could be bottled and sold, then Phil Gallagher would be a very wealthy man. Better known as Cbeebies’ Mister Maker, Gallagher has been creating works of art from bits and bobs in his ‘Doodle Drawer’ for the past four years. Endlessly excited about all his creations as Mister Maker, it comes as no surprise to find that Gallagher is equally buoyed up about the his first CBeebies Live tour. ‘It’s very exciting for all of us,’ says Gallagher. ‘Because we’re putting
all our TV shows on a big stage. But what’s really important, is to still have that connection with the viewer. We want to reach the thousands of CBeebies fans who come to a big arena, but also make sure that each member of the audience feels like they’re being spoken to and sung to directly, just like they do at home.’
Gallagher will be joined on stage by CBeebies regulars such as Mr Tumble, Postman Pat, the ZingZillas and Mike the Knight. This time around, Robbie Rotten from LazyTown is causing mischief, and the cast needs its young audience to help put things to rights. ‘We want the show to be as interactive as possible, so we’re getting the audience involved right the way through,’ says Gallagher. ‘Robbie Rotten is upset because he thinks he’s the biggest star on CBeebies and has various plans to prove it. But we’re depending on our CBeebies friends to warn us when he’s up to his old tricks.’ (Kelly Apter)
10.30am–12.30pm. £10. Imagination Workshop, 136 Marchmont Road, 466 0148. Use glitter, paint and fabrics to create a box of six Easter eggs. Ages 5+.
✽✽ Funky Puppet Making Workshop Mon 2 Apr, 1pm. £1.50.
Blackford Hill, 0844 557 2686. Help make a rocket and a telescope with scientists from the Royal Observatory. Ages 8+. Part of EISF.
✽✽ FREE Funky Puppet Making Workshop Wed 4 Apr, 10am.
Valley Park Community Centre, 37 Southhouse Road, 664 2210. Make rod puppets from colourful bits and bobs. Ages 3+. See feature, page 29. Part of the Puppet Animation Festival. LYT Musical Mayhem Tue 3–Thu 5 Apr, 10am–4pm. £100 (£50) for the full course. Royal Lyceum Theatre, Grindlay Street, 248 4848. Three days of singing, dancing and acting based on Glee. Ages 12–18.
✽✽ FREE The Little Red Hen and Friends Puppet Making
Workshop Tue 3 Apr, 10–11.30am. Booking required. North Edinburgh Arts Centre, Pennywell Court, 315 2151. Listen to the story of the Little Red Hen, then join puppeteers to put on a show. Ages 4+. Puppet Animation Festival. Spring Chickens Tue 3 & Wed 4 Apr, 10.30am–12.30pm. £20 for two days. Imagination Workshop, 136 Marchmont Road, 466 0148. Create mother hens and a brood of pom pom chicks. Ages 7+.
✽✽ Telescopes in Space Tue 3 & 10 Apr, 2.30–4pm. £4 (children £5).
Royal Observatory Visitor Centre,
Booking required. North Edinburgh Arts Centre, Pennywell Court, 315 2151. See above. Easter Egg Decorating Wed 4 Apr, 11am–3pm. Included in admission. Edinburgh Zoo, Corstorphine Road, 334 9171. Decorate an egg with the Imagination Workshop.
✽✽ FREE Identifying Human Faces Wed 4 Apr, 1–4pm. Royal
College of Surgeons, Nicolson Street, 0844 557 2686. Learn about the facial reconstruction techniques used to identify the living and the dead. Ages 12+. Part of EISF. FREE The Little Red Hen and Friends Puppet Making Workshop Wed 4 Apr, 4–5.30pm. Booking required. Craigmillar Community Arts Centre, 58 Newcraighall Road, 669 8432. See above. Flower Power Thu 5 Apr, 10.30am–12.30pm. £10. Imagination Workshop, 136 Marchmont Road, 466 0148. Make a flowery mobile to hang in your window. Ages 7+. Easter Themed Arts and Crafts Fri 6 & Mon 9 Apr, 11am–3pm. Included in admission. Edinburgh Zoo, Corstorphine Road, 334 9171. Design and make an Easter bonnet or create a 3D card. The Little Red Hen and Friends Puppet Making Workshop Sat 7 Apr, 10–11.30am. £4 (£2; local residents £1.50). WHALE Arts, 30 Westburn Grove, 458 3267. See above. Easter Treasure Hunt and Crafts in the Spring Gardens Sat 7 & Sun 8 Apr, 10am–12.30pm. £6. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Tasty treat-hunting, then there’s an egg and spoon race. Booking essential. Fit for a Queen Sat 7–Mon 9 & Sat 14–Mon 16 Apr, 11am–3pm. Included in admission. Palace of Holyroodhouse, Royal Mile, 556 5100. Dress up like kings and queens of yore. Arts and Crafts Activities Sat 7 & Sun 8 Apr, 11am–3pm. Included in admission. Edinburgh Zoo, Corstorphine Road, 334 9171. Create something egg- citing for Easter. Easter Egg Hunt Sun 8 Apr, 11am–3pm. Included in admission. Edinburgh Zoo, Corstorphine Road, 334 9171. Look for eggs with panda mascots Tian Tian and Yang Guang.
✽✽ FREE Portrait Detectives Science Special Sun 8 Apr, 2pm.
Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, 0844 557 2686. Solve some mysteries in the Pioneers of Science gallery. Ages 3+. Part of EISF.
✽✽ Funky Puppet Making Workshop Mon 9 Apr, 10am. £4
(£2; local residents £1.50). WHALE Arts, 30 Westburn Grove, 458 3267. See above.
✽✽ FREE Funky Puppet Making Workshop Tue 10 Apr, 2pm.
Booking required. Craigmillar Community Arts Centre, 58 Newcraighall Road, 669 8432. See above. Wakey, Wakey Sleepy Heads! Wed 11 Apr, 10.30am–12.30pm. £4. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. A walk in the grounds of Lauriston followed by a craft session.
✽✽ FREE Bang Goes the Theory Interactive Arena Fri 13–Sun 15 Apr, 10.30am–5.30pm. The Mound, 0844 557 2686. Have a go at some experiments and nifty science tricks. Part of EISF. Northern Streams: Children’s Workshops Sat 14 Apr, 10.15am & 2pm. £5. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street. 228 1155. From 10.15–11.30am discover mouth music, then from 2–3.15pm explore Iceland’s traditional music, song and dance. Part of Ceilidh Culture Early Years – Play Time Wednesdays, 18 Apr–9 May 10.30–11.30am. £6 per adult + child; additional children £3; four week block £20. Royal Lyceum Theatre, Grindlay Street, 248 4848. Drama-based play for kids