KIDS
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HITLIST THE BEST KIDS STUFF
✽ The Snowman Will we ever tire of this
gorgeous show? We doubt it. Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Thu 13–Sun 30 Dec.
✽ Children’s Classic Concerts: It’s Snowtime!
Irrepressible CCC hosts Owen & Olly are joined by the Royal Scot- tish National Orchestra for some rousing festive classics. Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sat 8 Dec; Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Sun 9 Dec.
✽ Little Ulla
Scottish Opera team up with Grinagog theatre company for this charming interactive mix of puppetry, narrative, music and song for ages 3–6. See preview, right. Scottish Opera, Glasgow, Wed 28 Nov–Sun 2 Dec; Platform, Glasgow, Fri 7–Mon 10 Dec.
✽ The Little Nutcracker A one-hour afternoon version
of Scottish Ballet’s Christmas show, perfect for younger attention spans. Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Sat 8 Dec.
✽ The Edinburgh Santa Toddle
Santa leads Edinburgh’s under-6s on a toddle through the park. Inver- leith Park, Edinburgh, Sun 2 Dec.
✽ Sally Magnusson Magnusson performs a free reading of her new book, Horace and the Haggis Hunter. St Giles’ Cathedral, Tue 27 Nov.
✽ Too Many Penguins? A show specially tailored for 0–3-year-olds from the creators of Paperbelle. Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Tue 11–Thu 13 Dec.
72 THE LIST 15 Nov–13 Dec 2012
Events are listed by city, then by type. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to kids@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Kirstyn Smith. ✽ Indicates Hitlist entry GLASGOW
Activities & Fun FREE RSPB Weekend: Sleeping Beauties Sat 17 & Sun 18 Nov, 11am–1pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Learn about the animals who’ll be hibernating through winter. FREE Sonic Storytelling Sat 17 Nov, 11am–1pm & 2–3.30pm. The Hub, Pacific Quay, sonic-a.co.uk/2012 Learn how to build a story through sound. FREE Charms of Glasgow Sat 17 Nov, noon–4pm. People’s Palace & Winter Gardens, Glasgow Green, 276 0788. Create a Glasgow-themed charm bracelet. Ages 8+. FREE What did the Romans ever do for us? Sat 17 Nov, 1–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. A hands-on learning session about great Roman inventions. Ages 5+. FREE Seeing Sound Sat 17 Nov, 1–3pm. Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, 0845 330 3501. Find out how sound can be turned into an image in this workshop. Ages 5–12. FREE A Very Victorian Christmas Sat & Sun 17 & 18 Nov, 8 & 9 Dec, 1.30– 4pm. Riverside Museum, 100 Pointhouse Place, 287 2660. Tradional Christmas craft workshop. Ages 5–12. Baby Discovery Mon 19 & 26 Nov, 3 & 10 Dec, 10–11am. £5 (siblings £2.50). Partick Baptist Church, 19 Crow Road, Partick, 07713 741502. Arts and crafts for ages 3–14 months. Little Explorers Wed 21 & 28 Nov, 5 & 12 Dec, 10–11am. £5 (siblings £2.50). Sherbrooke St Gilbert’s Church, Nithsdale Road, Pollokshields, 427 1968. Craft sessions for ages 1–5. FREE Wee Knights Fri 23 Nov, 11am & 2pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Learn about the lives of knights. For under 5s. Soldiers and Snowflakes Sat 24 Nov, 1 Dec & Sun 2 Dec, times vary. £5 per child + adult. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Music and movement combined to explore themes from The Nutcracker. FREE What Peter Did Next Sat 24 Nov, 1pm. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Imaginative Peter Rabbit play session. FREE High Flyers Sat 24 Nov, 1–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Discover some fantastic flying machines. Ages 7+. Parkour Drop-in Workshops Sat 24 Nov & 8 Dec, 1.30–3pm & 3–5pm. £4 per class. Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, 0845 330 3501. A chance for youngsters to get free- running. Ages 8–11 from 1.30pm and 12–18 from 3pm. FREE A Winter Journey Sat 24 & Sun 25 Nov, 1.30–4pm. Riverside Museum, 100 Pointhouse Place, 287 2660. Learn about ways of getting around through the ages. Ages 5–12. FREE Discover! Toy Soldiers and Ballerinas Sat 24 & Sun 25 Nov, 1.30–
4pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Be inspired by the story of The Nutcracker and create a ballerina or toy soldier. FREE Family Friendly Sunday Sun 25 Nov, 1–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Creative workshops for families. Ages 5+. FREE Peter Rabbit’s Box of Secrets Sun 25 Nov & Sat 8 Dec, 1pm. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Use Peter Rabbit treasures to inspire a story or comic strip. Ages 5–12. FREE Wee Romans Sat 1 Dec, 11am–noon & 2–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Dress up like a legionnaire and learn about the Romans. For under 5s. FREE RSPB Weekend: Camouflaged Creatures Sat 1 & Sun 2 Dec, 11am–1pm & 2–4pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Learn how animals blend into wintry surroundings. Time Travellers: School Days Sat 1 Dec, 2–3.30pm. £2 (£1.50). Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Relive schooldays from the 60s, WWII and Victorian times. Ages 5+. FREE Glasgow Time Travellers Sun 2 Dec, 1–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Travel through the time on a tour of the museum’s collections. Ages 7+. FREE Little Nutcracker Family Talk Sun 2 Dec, 3–4pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Learn about the story of The Nutcracker. FREE Shake, Rattle and Roll Mon 3 Dec, 11am & 2pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Go on safari to find out which animals make odd sounds. For under 5s. FREE Wee Wednesdays Wed 5 Dec, 2pm. Burrell Collection, 2060 Pollokshaws
Road, 287 2550. An exciting workshop based on the museum displays. For under 5s. FREE Santa’s Shoe-Shoe Train Sat 8 Dec, 1.30–4pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Turn old shoes into a magical train to send messages to Santa! Ages 3–5. Pantomime Workshop Sun 9 Dec, 2.30pm. £6. Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. Panto workshop focusing on A Christmas Carol. Ages 8–12. Books & Storytelling FREE The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit Storytelling Fri 16 & 30 Nov, 1.30pm. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Beatrix Potter’s beloved animal characters brought to life. FREE Around the World in 80 Stories Fri 30 Nov, 11am & 2pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Stories from across the globe. For under 5s. FREE Jonathan Meres: The Reading Hour Fri 30 Nov, 11am. Mitchell Library, North Street, 524 0160. Stories with zany comic Johnny Meres. Ages 10+. Part of Book Week Scotland. FREE The Elves and the Shoemaker Sat 1 & Sun 2 Dec, 1.30–4pm. Riverside Museum, 100 Pointhouse Place, 287 2660. Storytelling session about the poor shoemaker who receives some unexpected help. For ages 5–12. FREE BSL Storytelling Sat 1 Dec, 2pm. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Signed Beatrix Potter stories followed by arts and crafts. FREE Behind the Magic Doors Sat 8 & Sun 9 Dec, 1–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. An exciting storytelling tour of the museum. Ages 5–11. FREE Oh No! Where’s Peter? Sun 9 Dec, 1pm. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Follow the
EARLY YEARS FESTIVE SHOW LITTLE ULLA Scottish Opera Production Studios, Glasgow, Wed 28 Nov–Sat 1 Dec, then touring
With panto gags way over the head of your average five-year-old, early years Christmas shows have an important job to do. Happily, one of last year’s most successful festive offerings is back out on tour.
The tale of a mountain goat who works as the village postie in her alpine home, Little Ulla was a hit with audiences and critics alike in 2011. What was the secret of its success?
‘It’s a very warm piece with a lot of heart, so children connect to the story
emotionally,’ says the show’s co-creator, Clare McGarry. ‘It’s also a very silly show with lots of funny bits and amusing characters.’ A co-production between Scottish Opera and McGarry’s company,
Grinagog Theatre, Little Ulla incorporates narrative, puppetry, music and song. Over the past four years, Grinagog has played to over 21,000 chil- dren aged 3–6, so McGarry knows how to hit the spot with pre-schoolers. ‘Young children make a brilliant audience, because they’re so willing to enter into the make-believe world,’ says McGarry. ‘But they can be quite unpredictable, which I like – you can’t be precious about anything going wrong. So I always find performers who are as comfortable being them- selves in front of an audience as they are when they’re acting.’ (Kelly Apter)