list.co.uk/kids
Music ✽ FREE Fresh Faced Alternative Winter Fayre Sat 15 Dec, 2–8pm.
Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, 0845 330 3501. A day of performance and art for and by young people. Baby Disco Sun 16 Dec, 12.30–2.30pm. £1 suggested donation. Mono, 12 Kings Court, King Street, 553 2400. Little ones can get their groove on at a gentle movement session.
✽ RSNO Christmas Concert Sat 22 Dec, 2pm & 6pm. £12.50–£34 (£6.25–£17). Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. See preview, right.
Theatre & Dance Goldilocks Until Sat 22 Dec, times vary. £9 (£4–£5). Platform, The Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road, Easterhouse, 276 9696. Charming panto for youngsters set on Christmas Eve at the three bears’ house. Sleeping Beauty Until Sun 6 Jan (not Tue 25 Dec), times vary. £13–£19.50 (children £7–£11.50; family £38–£58). Citizens Theatre, 119 Gorbals Street, 429 0022. Adaptation of the age-old fairytale. Christmas Time Until Mon 24 Dec, times vary. £7.50 (family £19.50–£26). Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. A festive rhyming show for wee ones. Ages 3–6. The Singing Kettle: Fairytale Christmas Thu 13 & Fri 14 Dec, 10.30am, 1.30pm & 5pm. Sat 15 & Sun 16 Dec, noon & 3pm. £12–£13 (family £44–£48; groups of 10+ £8.50–£9 each). Braehead Arena, Kings Inch Road, 0844 499 1700. A blend of new and old songs from the ever-popular Kettlers. Oh Crumbs, Scary Biscuits! Until Mon 24 Dec, times vary. £7.50. Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, 552 3988. SYT’s new take on the tale of Hansel and Gretel. Ages 3–7. The Ugly Duckling Until Sun 30 Dec (not Tue 25 & Wed 26 Dec). £9.50 (£5; family £24). The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. A discotastic take on the tale. Ages 3+. The Govan Cat Until Sat 22 Dec (not Sun & Mon), times vary. £10 (£5). Pearce Institute, 840 Govan Road, 445 6007. A brave cat saves Govan’s Christmas celebrations from the Rat Queen’s evil schemes. I Love the Stars Sat 15 & Sun 16 Dec, Sat 22 & Sun 23 Dec, 10.30am, noon & 2pm. £7.50 per adult + child. Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, 552 3988. Special Christmassy performance for under 12 months. Jango’s Jolly Christmas Sat 15 Dec, 2pm. £5.50 per child. Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Extravagant festive fun from Jango the clown who blends magic, juggling and slapstick. Ages 3+.
✽ Little Ulla Thu 20 Dec–Sun 23 Dec, 11am & 1.30pm. £7 (children £5). Eastwood Park Theatre, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, 577 4970. Puppetry, storytelling and music. Ages 3–5. FREE Galoshins Tue 1 Jan, 1.30pm & 3.15pm. Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. A traditional Scots mumming play, with sword fighting and miracles aplenty. Ages 5+.
EDINBURGH Activities & Fun FREE Magic Carpet Minis Thu 13 & 20 Dec, 10.30–10.50am. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. Songs, stories, rhymes and more for ages 0–2 plus adults. Christmas Panda Breakfast Sat 15 & 22 Dec, 10–11.30am. £15 per child + one adult. Edinburgh Zoo, Corstorphine Road, 314 0334. Breakfast at the zoo, enjoy fun, festive activities and meet the zoo’s very own Panda Claus before
FAMILY CONCERT RSNO CHRISTMAS CONCERT Caird Hall, Dundee, Fri 21 Dec; Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sat 22 Dec; Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Sun 23 Dec
Maureen Beattie is no stranger to Christmas entertainment. Although best known for her spell in Casualty, the Scottish actress has trod many a board during the festive season, much like her father – comedian and actor, Johnny Beattie – before her.
So when she was asked to narrate Raymond Briggs’ perennial favourite The Snowman at the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) Christmas Concert, Beattie was quick to say yes.
‘It’ll be fabulous,’ she says, with no shortage of enthusiasm. ‘I’m
really looking forward to it. Panto was very much a part of growing up for me, and I’ve done loads of it myself. I’m not suggesting the RSNO concert is a pantomime, but hopefully children – and adults – will be excited, and it will get us all in the mood for Christmas.’ Conducted by Christopher Bell, the RSNO’s annual Christmas caper
is a lively mix of superb musicianship, festive tunes, beautiful vocals (courtesy of the RSNO Junior Chorus), theatricality (from the lovely Ms Beattie) and a touch of silliness in the form of ‘The Penguin Song’ (declining Bell’s invitation to participate is not an option).
For those in the audience, the sheer power of a full orchestra can hit you like a truck, albeit a very pleasant one. Standing next to the musicians as she narrates, Beattie will feel their presence more than most – something she experienced at this year’s Edinburgh International Festival, when she acted alongside the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. ‘I got a taster of it, but I don’t think it’s anything you ever get used to,’
she says, ‘because it’s just so sensational.’ (Kelly Apter)
visiting Tian Tian and Yang Guang themselves. FREE Potter’s Wheel Sat 15 Dec, 10.30am–12.30pm. Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate, 529 3963. Make your own family heirloom based on a design in the museum. FREE Christmas Capers Sat 15 Dec, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. Museum of Childhood, 42 High Street, 529 4142. Make a festive wreath to pop on your front door at this family workshop. Where the Wild Things Play Sat 15 Dec, 11am–1.30pm & 2–6.30pm. £10. Edinburgh Printmakers, 23 Union Street, 557 2479. Youngsters can create an image of the ideal place to play. Ages 8–12. Santa’s Grotto Sat 15 & Sun 16 Dec, noon–3pm. £3. Gorgie City Farm, 51 Gorgie Road, 337 4202. Meet Santa, along with his animals in the Cuddle Corner, and, if you’ve been good this year, see if he’s got any gifts to dish out. Mrs Reid’s Magical Christmas Present Sat 15 Dec, 2pm & 3pm. £3– £6.50 (family £12.50–£17). Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Learn how the household would have prepared for Christmas in 1910. FREE Magic Carpet Wed 19 Dec, 10.30–10.50am. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. All aboard the magic carpet for fun activities, stories and songs.
Glistening Christmas Mosaic Decorations Fri 21 Dec, 10.30am– 12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. £4. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Create some sparkly decorations to take pride of place on the Christmas tree. Christmas Traditions Sat 22 Dec– Mon 24 Dec, times vary. Included in admission. Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, 225 9846. As the big day draws ever nearer, learn about the traditions we keep over Christmas. Daft Days Thu 27 Dec–Wed 2 Jan, noon–4pm. Included in admission. Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, 225 9846. Meet Mary, Queen of Scots and her lady in waiting. Soldiers and Snowflakes Fri 28 & Sat 29 Dec, Thu 3 & Fri 4 Jan, times vary. £6. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. Workshops for youngsters trying ballet for the first time, combining music and movement to explore themes from The Nutcracker. Festive Fun Sat 29 & Sun 30 Dec, 9.30am–3pm. Included in admission. Palace of Holyroodhouse, Royal Mile, 524 1019. Unravel festive riddles to learn more about Christmas and New Year traditions while hunting for missing Christmas presents. Holyroodhouse, Royal Mile, 0844 573 8455. Alaskan Malamutes and Samoyed and Siberian Huskies pulling stuff and
✽ FREE Edinburgh’s Dogmanay Tue 1 Jan, noon–3pm. Palace of
KIDS
running really, really fast! FREE Create Your Own Family Crest Sat 19 Jan, 10.30am–12.30pm. Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate, 529 4143. Use air dry clay to create an emblem that represents your family. FREE Colours and Feelings Sat 19 Jan, 10.30am–1pm. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3993. Learn to use colour to express mood. Saturday SYT Sat 19 Jan–Sat 23 Mar, 12.15–2.15pm. £110 for ten-week course. Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. Drama workshops for ages 11–14 with Scottish Youth Theatre, teaching improvisation, character acting, voice and movement. Books & Storytelling FREE Talking Trees Storytelling Sun 16 Dec & 20 Jan, 2–3.30pm. Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2909. Talking Trees storytelling returns to transport adults and children alike to a magical land far, far away. Ages 5+. The Story Kist: Inclusive Storytelling Fri 21 Dec, 11am–noon. £5 (£3; family £14). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Wrap up warm for a Christmas special, featuring snowy stories and wintry tales. Twinkle Bell Sat 22 & Sun 23 Dec, times vary. £8 (£6; family £24). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Puppets, music and song telling the story of Twinkle Bell the fairy, who followed a snow flake out the window and got lost. Ages 3–6. Stories Round the Tree Mon 24 Dec, 1–1.45pm & 3–3.45pm. £5 (£3; family £14). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Cosy Christmas Eve storytelling session. Ages 4+. A Moose in the Hoose Mon 31 Dec, 1pm & 2pm. £3 per adult + child. Brunton Theatre, Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, 665 2240. A musical version of the Scots counting book by James Robertson and Matthew Fitt. Jack Martin’s Magic Mayhem: Daft Days Special Mon 31 Dec, noon–1pm. £5 (£3; family £14). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Silly stories featuring fun, games and tall tales aplenty. Ages 4+.
Music ✽ RSNO Christmas Concert Sun 23 Dec, 3pm. £12.50–£34 (£6.25–£17).
Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. See preview, left.
Theatre & Dance The Christmas Quangle Wangle Thu 13 & Fri 14 Dec, 10am & 1pm. Sat 15 Dec, 10.30am & 1.30pm. £6. North Edinburgh Arts Centre, 15a Pennywell Court, 315 2151. Festive take on the nonsense poems of Edward Lear. Ages 3–12.
✽ Too Many Penguins? Until Sat 22 Dec (not Sun & Mon), 10.30am &
2pm. £10. Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, 228 1404. Show from the team that brought you the wonderful Paperbelle. Ages 1–4.
✽ The Snowman Until Sun 30 Dec (not Tue 25 Dec), 1pm, 4pm & 7pm.
Thu 20 Dec, 7pm. £16–£27 (£10–£24). Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. Magical festive family production based on the eternally popular book. Hankies at the ready. Lapin Wants to See Santa Fri 14 Dec, 11–11.40am & 3–3.40pm. £8 (£6; family £24). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. The cheeky bilingual bunny invites Père Noël himself round for hot chocolate. Ages 3+. Baby Loves Disco Sun 30 & Mon 31 Dec, noon–2pm & 3–5pm. £8. Electric Circus, 36–39 Market Street, 07986 527947. Hogmanay special. Is This A Dagger? Mon 31 Dec, 1.50–2.30pm. £8 (£6; family £24). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Take on the true story of Macbeth. Ages 8+.
13 Dec 2012–24 Jan 2013 THE LIST 103