list.co.uk/kids Events are listed by city, then type. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to kids@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Laura Ennor.
GLASGOW
Activities & Fun FREE Going Batty Fri 24 Aug, 8.30– 10pm. Victoria Park, Victoria Park Drive, Whiteinch, 287 8118; Sat 25 Aug, 8.30– 10pm. Linn Park, Simshill Road, 287 8118; Sun 26 Aug, 8.30–10pm. Pollok Country Park, Pollokshaws Road, 287 8118. Bat hunt to celebrate European Bat Week. Ages 8+; all children must be accompanied. Acting Up Drama Workshops Saturdays, until 22 Dec, times vary. £6 per class. CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. Fun drama workshops aimed at building confidence and creativity. FREE Flame Celebration Family Day Sun 26 Aug, noon–4pm. Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, 0845 330 3501. Workshops, performances and celebration to mark the Paralympic Games. What if I Could Build a City? Sun 26 Aug, 1–4pm. £10 for first family member; £8 additional members. The Lighthouse, 11 Mitchell Lane, 276 5365. Build a mini-city out of waste materials. Scottish Ballet Youth Collective: Small Steps Mondays, 27 Aug–10 Dec, 4.30–6pm. £90 for full term. Scottish Ballet, Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, 331 6297. Workshops in ballet and contemporary dance. Ages 10–12. FREE The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit Sat 1 Sep–Sun 24 Feb (not Mon), Tue–Thu & Sat 10am–5pm; Fri & Sun 11am–5pm. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. An exhibition celebrating Peter Rabbit. FREE Wee Super Scientists Sat 1 Sep, 11am–noon & 2–4pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Explore the wonderful world of water. Suitable for under 5s. FREE Local Nature Reserve Celebration Sun 2 Sep, 10am–3pm. Hogganfield Loch, 1628 Cumbernauld Road, 276 0931. Wildlife counts, guided walks, stalls and displays. Scottish Youth Theatre Classes From Sat 8 Sep, times and prices vary. Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, 552 3988. Weekly theatre and dance classes for kids of all ages. More information and booking details at scottishyouththeatre.org. FREE Down Under at GMRC Sat 8 Sep, 1–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Explore the Australian collections. Suitable for ages 5–11. FREE September at the Farm Sun 9 Sep, noon–3pm. Tollcross Children’s Farm, Wellshot Road, 763 1863. A fun, animal-themed activity day. Books & Storytelling FREE Meet Emma Thompson Fri 31 Aug, 4pm. Waterstone’s, 174 Argyle Street, 248 4814. The actress signs copies of The Further Tales of Peter Rabbit.
Music The Singing Kettle: Farmyard Party Sat 25 Aug, 1pm & 3.30pm. £10 (family £36). Eastwood Park Theatre, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, 577 4970. Cilla, Artie, Gary and Kevin party with the animals. Theatre & Dance Looking for Nessie Sat 8 Sep, 2pm, £5.95 (children £5.50), Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Fun and laughter with Talking Heads puppets for ages 3+. The Complete History of Scotland . . . in 55 minutes! Wed 12 Sep, 10.30am & 1.45pm. £6. Eastwood Park Theatre, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, 577 4970. Scottish song
Kids
PICTURE BOOK THE GRUFFALO IN SCOTS Itchy Coo ●●●●●
Can there be a children’s bookshelf in the land that doesn’t hold a copy of The Gruffalo? Julia Donaldson’s picture book has been a perennial hit with pre-schoolers since it was first published in 1999, with new toddlers discovering it all the time.
But if, like me, you’ve lost count of the number of times you’ve read it out loud, here’s something to shake things up a little. The winning combination of Donaldson’s plot and Axel Scheffler’s colourful illustrations have been retained, but The Gruffalo in Scots is a whole new bedtime proposition.
Thanks to James Robertson’s translation, no longer does the mouse take a walk in the deep dark woods – now he’s off to take a ‘dauner through the deep, mirk widd’. The fox he encounters along the way is now a ‘tod’, the owl a ‘hoolet’ and the snake an, erm, snake (clearly an inventive Scots speaker needs to come up with a new translation for that one ).
It’s fascinating and educational to see this familiar text written in such an unfamiliar way, and a great reminder of our cultural heritage for those reading it in Scotland. Robertson’s words also lead to a few laughs, with the much repeated, ‘A Gruffalo, why didn’t you know?’ line now reading as ‘Whit, dae ye no ken?’ The only potential drawback here, is it takes a certain degree of confidence – or even performance style – to read this out loud, especially if you don’t have a Scottish accent. But then in some houses, that will just add to the fun. (Kelly Apter)
and dance performance. Ages 8+. FREE Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre Doors Open Day Sat 15–Sun 16 Sep, 10am–4pm, Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. An exciting doors open day with puppetry aplenty. Scottish Dance Theatre: What on Earth!? Thu 20 Sep, 1.30pm. £8 (£3.50–£4.50). Platform, The Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road, Easterhouse, 276 9696. Contemporary dance piece aimed specifically at kids. Ages 5+.
EDINBURGH Activities & Fun FREE Jo Mango Songwriting Workshop Fri 24 Aug, 2–4pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. Learn how to craft a musical hit. Instruments provided, but bring your own if you have one. Children must be accompanied. Ages 8–12. FREE Castles and Towers Sat 25 Aug, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate, 529 3963. Create your own impression of Edinburgh’s skyline. FREE A Treasured Paradise Sat 25 & Sun 26 Aug, 1–4pm. Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2909. Iranian artist-led workshop. Ages 5+. Jam Time Sat 25 Aug, 3pm. £15 for riders; £5 for spectators (under 5s free). Transgression Skate Park, 10b Kings Haugh Road, Peffermill Industrial Estate, 661 4769. BMX-related fun and demos. Woodland Cushions Sun 26 Aug, 11am–3pm. £6. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Create a comfy cushion inspired by wildlife. Busy Servants and VIP Guests Sat
1 Sep, 10.30am–12.30pm. £4. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Experience how the other half lived in Edwardian times. FREE Family Drop In Art Session: A Life in Colour – Leslie Hunter and The Scottish Colourists Sat 1 Sep, 10.30am–noon. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3993. Feel inspired by the exhibition and create your own masterpiece. FREE Greyfriars Bobby on Parade Sat 1 Sep, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate, 529 3963. Make a sculpture of Bobby and give him some trendy accessories. FREE What’s That Tree? Sat 1 & Sun 2 Sep, 1–4pm. Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2909. Explore some of the more common trees in Scotland then create an identification guide. Ages 5+. Dance Base Classes From Sat 8 Sep, times and prices vary. Dance Base, 14-16 Grassmarket, 225 5525. Courses and drop-in classes covering a variety of styles. Book via dancebase.co.uk Scottish Youth Theatre Classes From Sat 8 Sep, times and prices vary. Various venues, Edinburgh, scottishyouththeatre.org See Glasgow, Activities & Fun. FREE Draw Up a Seat Sat 15 Sep, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate, 529 3963. Outdoor drawing in the new courtyard spaces. FREE Tree Treasures Sat 15 & Sun 16 Sep, 1–4pm. Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2909. Transform natural treasures into a work of art. Ages 5+. Fantasy Castles Sun 16 Sep, 10.30am–12.30pm. £4. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Discover the hidden rooms of the castle, then get arty and create a 3D castle.
Rainbow Glass Panels Mon 17 Sep, 10.30am–12.30pm. £4. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Make a colourful stained glass-effect panel. Books & Storytelling FREE Magic Porridge Pot Sat 25 Aug, noon–1pm. The Scottish Parliament, Horse Wynd, 348 5405. A magical, interactive storytelling session. Ages 3–7. Part of the Festival of Politics. See How We See Sea Monsters! Sat 1 Sep, 10am–noon. £3 per child + adult (under 3s free). Royal Blind School, Craigmillar Park Campus, 2b Craigmillar Park, 229 1456. Arts and crafts with kids’ author Janis MacKay.
Theatre & Dance Dream on Midsummer’s Night Tue 11 Sep, 10.30am & 1.30pm. £6.50 (family £24). Brunton Theatre, Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, 665 2240. A re-telling of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Ages 10+.
OUTSIDE THE CITIES Activities & Fun Who’s Your Hero? Fri 24 Aug, 10am– noon & 1–3pm. £6 per session. Jupiter Artland, Bonnington House Steadings, Wilkieston, 01506 889900. Create a piece of art that represents your hero.
Theatre & Dance Licketyleap Sat 15 Sep, 11am & 2pm. £12 per adult + child ‘Adventurer’ pair; ‘Passengers’ £10 (children £6). Byre Theatre, Abbey Street, St Andrews, 01334 475000. Interactive theatre experience for ages 3–5. Performance followed by a drawing session.
23 Aug–20 Sep 2012 THE LIST 61