list.co.uk/kids aged 2–4 and their parents/carers. Life in Space Sat 21 Apr, 10am, 1pm & 3pm. £1 in addition to normal admission price. Our Dynamic Earth, Holyrood Road, 550 7800. Learn what it’s like to be an astronaut, and build your own rocket. Book via website. Ages 6–14.
Books & Storytelling Find the Lost Cave of Harps – Story Walk/Come and Try Harp Session Sat 31 Mar, 10am (ages 5–8) & 2.15pm (ages 9–14). £9. Merchiston Castle School, 294 Colinton Road, 228 1155. Join a storyteller and harpist on a walk with stories, riddles and rhymes. Followed by a ‘Come and Try’ harp session. Part of Ceilidh Culture EISF at the Scottish Storytelling Centre Mon 2–Mon Apr 9 (not Sat/Sun), times vary. £4 per event. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Storytelling with scientific themes. FREE Boris Goes Camping Tue 3 Apr, 2–2.30pm. Waterstone’s, 98/9 Ocean Terminal, Ocean Drive, Leith, 554 7732. Hear the tale of Boris the bear’s school camping trip. FREE Rumble in the Jungle Tue 10 Apr, 2–2.30pm. Waterstone’s, 98/9 Ocean Terminal, Ocean Drive, Leith, 554 7732. Animal-themed rhymes.
✽✽ FREE Super Science City Thu 12 Apr, 11–11.45am & 2–2.45pm.
Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, 0844 557 2686. Storytelling about heroes of the Enlightenment. Part of EISF. FREE Lollipop and Grandfather Go on an Adventure Sat 14 Apr, 11am. Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. The story of a back garden safari. Ages 4–8. Tiny Tales Tue 17 Apr, 10–10.40am & 11.30am–12.10pm. £6 per child (accompanying adult free). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Stories and rhymes for ages 6 months–2 years. FREE Zoe and Beans: The Magic Hoop Tue 17 Apr, 2–2.30pm. Waterstone’s, 98/9 Ocean Terminal, Ocean Drive, Leith, 554 7732. Storytelling session. FREE Picture Kelpies Storytelling Day Sat 21 Apr, 10.30–11am, 11.30am– noon , 1.30–2pm & 2.30–3pm. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 337 2372. Hear some of the latest additions to the Picture Kelpies series. Ages 3–6.
Music Happy Ears Sat 31 Mar & 14 Apr, 10am. £5 per session. Calton Centre, 121 Montgomery Street, 661 0880. Music group for dads and male carers and their 0–18-month-olds. Baby Loves Disco Sun 8 Apr, 2–5pm. £8 (non walking babies free). Electric Circus, 36–39 Market Street, 07986 527957. A chance to dance for kids aged 6 months–7 years (and their parents).
Theatre & Dance ✽✽ Oscar and the Quest for the Underground Princess Mon 2 Apr, 1.30pm. £4 (£2; ‘good neighbours’ £1.50). Goodtrees Neighbourhood Centre, 5 Moredunvale Place, 672 2629. Oscar goes adventuring in the Mole Kingdom. Ages 3+. Part of the Puppet Animation Festival. Oscar and the Quest for the Underground Princess Tue 3 Apr. 11am. £4 (£2). Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7101. See above.
✽✽ Thumbelina Wed 4 Apr, 11am. £4 (£2). Out of the Blue Drill Hall,
30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7101. Tale of Thumbelina’s adventures in the garden. Ages 2–6. Part of the Puppet Animation Festival.
✽✽ The Elf of Glen Fern Wed 4 Apr, 2–2.40pm. £4 (£2). Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7101. Colourful fabric puppets tell the tale of a brownie. Ages 3+. Part of the Puppet Animation Festival.
Kids
Willie the Wicked Wolf Wed 11 Apr 1.30pm. £4 (£2; ‘good neighbours’ £1.50). Inch Community Centre, Inch House, 225 Gilmerton Road, 664 4710. See above.
✽✽ Potato Needs a Bath Wed 11 Apr, 3pm. £8 (£6). Scottish
Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. A gentle show about a potato who has mud on his face. Ages 3–6. Part of the Puppet Animation Festival.
✽✽ The Selfish Giant Thu 12 Apr, 3- 3.40pm. £8 (£6). Scottish
Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. An imaginative version of Oscar Wilde’s moral tale. Ages 3–7. Part of the Puppet Animation Festival.
✽✽ FREE Bang Goes the Theory Live Science Shows Fri 13–Sun
15 Apr, 11.30am & 4pm. Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 0844 557 2686. An action- packed live stage show from the BBC TV team. Part of EISF.
✽✽ Cloud Man Sat 14 Apr, 11am. £4 (£2; ‘good neighbours’ £1.50). North Edinburgh Arts Centre, Pennywell Court, 315 2151. Join cloud expert Cloudia on a journey to find a Cloud Man. Ages 4–7. Part of the Puppet Animation Festival.
✽✽ FREE Landscapes Mon 16 Apr, 1–1.50pm & 2.30–3.20pm &
FRENCH PUPPETRY LAPIN WANTS AN EASTER CARROT Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, Tue 10 Apr
As any adult who has undertaken a language class will tell you, it goes in quicker when you’re younger. Learning French as a child, when that little sponge-like brain is firing on all cylinders, isn’t just easier, it’s a lot more fun since Tania Czajka set up her puppet company, Le Petit Monde.
Aimed at ages 3-5, Lapin Wants an Easter Carrot is the latest show Czajka has created featuring Lapin, a friendly rabbit who only ever talks in his native tongue, French. His friends, however, speak both French and English, and that’s where the learning comes in. ‘I aim for my shows to be understood by everyone, including children who
have never heard French words before,’ explains Czajka. ‘So having the right balance of French and English is very important. I build my scripts around simple words like ‘pomme’, fun or pleasant sounding ones or those similar to English, such as ‘carotte’. I then make sure the main word is repeated throughout the story.’
Czajka was inspired to set up her company after the children she worked with in nursery schools responded positively to her French puppet games. ‘I realised they could learn so much and so easily through puppetry,’ she says. ‘We don’t set out to teach French, but of course we speak it during the show. I think the children are naturally drawn to this very visual little world and don’t realise they are learning new words – to them, they are just other words. That’s the magic of the pre-school age.’ For more information go to lepetitmonde.co.uk (Kelly Apter)
The Elf of Glen Fern Thu 5 Apr, 11- 11.40am. £4 (£2; ‘good neighbours’ £1.50). North Edinburgh Arts Centre, 15a Pennywell Court, 315 2151. See above.
✽✽ FREE Pop-Up Circus Thu 5 Apr, 2pm. Craigmillar Community Arts
Centre, 58 Newcraighall Road, 669 8432. A gentle first trip to the circus. Ages 0–3. Part of the Puppet Animation Festival. The Gruffalo Fri 6 Apr, 1.30pm; Sat 7 Apr, 10.30am & 1.30pm. £13. Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. Julia Donaldson’s fun tale hits the stage. See feature, page 29.
✽✽ The Pea, The Bean & The Enormous Turnip Sat 7 Apr, 2pm.
£4 (£2; local residents £1.50). WHALE Arts, 30 Westburn Grove, 458 3267. A magical new adaptation of The Princess and the Pea. Ages 5+. Part of the Puppet Animation Festival.
✽✽ Little Red . . . You Know Who Mon 9 Apr, 2pm. £4 (£2; local residents £1.50). WHALE Arts, 30 Westburn Grove, 458 3267. Puppetry and
music for ages 3–7. Part of the Puppet Animation Festival. Lapin Wants an Easter Carrot Tue 10 Apr, 11–11.40am & 3–3.40pm. £8 (£6). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. A show for ages 3- 8, gently introducing them to the French language. See preview. Pop-Up Circus Tue 10 Apr, 11am. £3 (£2; ‘good neighbours’ £1.50). Gilmerton Community Centre, 4 Drum Street, 664 2335. See above.
✽✽ White Wed 11–Sat 14 Apr, 10.30am & 1.30pm. £10 (family tickets £8 per
person). Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, 228 1404. Charming show about a dazzling world where everything is white. Ages 0–4.
✽✽ Willie the Wicked Wolf Wed 11 Apr, 11am. £4 (£2; ‘good
neighbours’ £1.50). North Edinburgh Arts Centre, 15a Pennywell Court, 315 2151. A non-traditional version of Little Red Riding Hood. Ages 4+. Part of the Puppet Animation Festival.
4–4.50pm. Craigmillar Community Arts Centre, 58 Newcraighall Road, 669 8432. Puppet show taking children on a journey across the globe. Ages 4+. Part of the Puppet Animation Festival.
OUTSIDE THE CITIES Activities & Fun macrobert Family Fundays Sun 1 Apr, 11am–4pm. £2–£5. macrobert, University of Stirling, 01786 466666. This month’s funday includes performances of Catherine Wheels’ acclaimed White, a new digital dance performance inspired by computer games, screenings of Up and Big Miracle and family workshops. Enchanted Easter Sat 7 & Sun 8 Apr, noon–4pm. Included in castle admission. Stirling Castle, 01786 450000. Jugglers, jesters and historic storytelling.
Theatre & Dance ✽✽ Professor Egghead’s Aqua Adventure Sat 31 Mar–Sun 15 Apr, 2–2.45pm. Included in admission. Scottish Seabird Centre, The Harbour, North Berwick, 0844 557 2686. Explore life beneath the waves. Ages 4+. Part of EISF. Charlie & Lola’s Best Bestest Play Sat 7 Apr 11am, 1.30pm & 3.45pm. £2. Dundee Rep, Tay Square, Dundee, 01382 223530. Stage production for tots. Ages 3+. Fireman Sam: Pontypandy Rocks Sun 8 Apr, 1pm & 3pm. £12 (£10; family £40). Albert Halls, Dumbarton Road, Stirling, 01786 473544. Pontypandy holds its first ever music festival. Fireman Sam: Pontypandy Rocks Mon 9 Apr, 1pm & 3.30pm. £12 (£10; family £42). Motherwell Concert Hall and Theatre, Windmillhill Street, 01698 403120. See above. Charlie & Lola’s Best Bestest Play Wed 11 & Thu 12 Apr, 11am & 1.30pm. £10 (family £36). Motherwell Theatre, Civic Centre, Windmillhill Street, 01698 403120. See above. Scottish Dance Theatre: What on Earth!? Wed 11 Apr, 2pm; Thu 12 Apr, 11am. £7 (£4–£6; family £20). Dundee Rep, Tay Square, Dundee, 01382 223530. SDT’s first piece of contemporary dance aimed specifically at kids. Scottish Dance Theatre: What on Earth!? Wed 18 Apr, 11am & 1.30pm. £7 (£5.50). macrobert, University of Stirling, 01786 466666. See above. We Dance Wee Groove Fri 20 Apr, 10.30–11.30am & 1.30–2.30pm. £7 (£5.50). macrobert, University of Stirling, 01786 466666. A groove extravaganza for clubbers aged 6 months to 4 years. Underneath the Floorboards Sat 21 Apr, 11am & 2.30pm. £7 (family £25). macrobert, University of Stirling, 01786 466666. balletLorent presents a show about a little boy who discovers a portal to a magical world.
29 Mar–26 Apr 2012 THE LIST 79