list.co.uk/kids KIDS
KIDS list.co.uk/kids
HITLIST THE BEST KIDS STUFF
✽ Macastory’s Mural Mayhem! Three free
storytelling sessions for ages 4–12, inspired by the giant murals on display at the gallery. Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh, Sun 24 Feb.
✽ Madagascar Live! Alex the Lion and friends burst out of
the DreamWorks film and onto the stage in this colourful musical production. See preview, right. SECC, Glasgow, Fri 8—Sun 10 Mar.
✽ The Soft Play Area Missing out on live comedy since your wee one was born? Then take them along to this new venture, where babies and toddlers are welcome, and sweary stuff is off the menu. See preview, page 68. Bungo Bar & Kitchen, Glasgow, Sun 17, 24 & 31 Mar.
✽ The Sky Is Falling Interactive fun for pre-
schoolers from Scottish Youth Theatre Productions, based on the story of Henny Penny and Chicken Little. Old Sheriff Court, Glasgow, Thu 14 Mar–Sat 6 Apr.
✽ Baby Loves Disco Re-live your pre-children disco days, but with your little ones cutting a rug beside you. Three hours of dancing, games and chilling out. Electric Circus, Edinburgh, Sun 24 Feb.
✽ Street Science The Edinburgh International
Science Festival takes to the streets, with mind-boggling experiments to stop passers-by in their tracks. Various locations, Edinburgh, Thu 16–Sun 31 Mar.
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 Dance Your Socks Off Thu 21, 28 Feb & 7 Mar, 10–10.45am. £3.50 per family. Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, 0845 330 3501. Interactive musical fun for little ones. Under 5s. FREE Goodbye Peter Rabbit Sat 23 Feb, 1–4pm. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Loads of fun rabbity activities to enjoy to say farewell to the Peter Rabbit exhibition. Suitable for all ages. FREE Archaeology Uncovered Sat 23 Feb, 11am–1pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Hands-on archaeological activities that you’ll really dig. Ages 7+. FREE RSPB Weekend: Animal Investigators Sat 23 & Sun 24 Feb, 1.30– 4pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Study paw prints and tracks to decipher which creatures have passed by. For all ages. FREE Family Fun at the Palace Sat 23 Feb & 10 Mar, 2pm. People’s Palace & Winter Gardens, Glasgow Green, 276 0788. Activities and fun linked to the exhibitions. FREE Family Friendly Sunday Sun 24 Feb, 1–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, 276 9300. Creative workshops inspired by the collections. Ages 5+. FREE Ritual Objects Sun 24 Feb, 1pm. People’s Palace & Winter Gardens, Glasgow Green, 276 0788. Have a go at creating your own spiritual icon. FREE Horrible Headie Tours Sat 2 & 16 Mar, 11am–1pm. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Take this interactive tour and see just how tough kids used to have it. FREE Our Scotland Sun 3 Mar, 1–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, 276 9300. Learn about how our wee country has had an impact on the world. Ages 7+. FREE The Corky Craft Club Sun 3 Mar, 1pm. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Activities and fun with arts and crafts. Glasgow Kids Comedy Club Sun 3 & 17 Mar, 3pm. £4. The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. Live comedy for younger fans, particularly those aged 8–12. No under 5s; all kids must be accompanied by an adult. FREE Wee Wednesdays Wed 6 Mar, 2pm. Burrell Collection, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 287 2550. Workshop based on the displays. For under 5s. All About Me Thu 7 & Sun 17 Mar, 10am–2pm. Included in admission. Glasgow Science Centre, 50 Pacific Quay, 420 5000. Discover the incredible things your body can do. Ages 3–5. FREE The World of Ancient Egypt Sat 9 & Sun 10 Mar, 1–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, 276 9300. Explore the lives of Ancient Egyptians. Ages 5+. FREE RSPB Weekend: Seabird Spectacular Sat 9 & Sun 10 Mar, 1.30– 4pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum,
STAGE SHOW MADAGASCAR LIVE! SECC, Glasgow, Fri 8–Sun 10 Mar
A dancing lion, scheming penguins, a love-struck giraffe and a maniacal king lemur – there’s a lot going on in DreamWorks’ 2005 film, Madagascar. What you won’t find much of, however, is songs. But when a new stage version was being devised, a decision was
made early on to transform the film into a full-on piece of musical theatre. ‘We had to find the right places for the songs, so that they made sense dramatically,’ explains the show’s choreographer, Jenn Rapp. ‘And work out how we could take a small moment and elaborate it into a big number. That was the biggest challenge, finding out how to make a non-musical into a musical.’
The result is a lively mix of comedy, poignancy and some great show tunes. In particular a number with dancing steaks (when Alex the Lion’s empty stomach leads to meaty hallucinations), and a Motown-inspired song about the food chain.
Finding a way to portray animals on stage, especially ones with very human attributes, was another hurdle to overcome. ‘The animals are almost the most human-like characters in it,’ says Rapp. ‘So the humans who come to watch the animals at the zoo are intentionally distorted, they have huge foreheads, wigs, big shoes – it’s the world from an animal’s viewpoint.’
To choreograph the infamous ‘I Like to Move it’ scene with King Julien, Rapp researched traditional African dances, then blended it with some 80s pop moves. Great fun to watch, but tiring for the dancers. ‘It’s very, very aerobic,’ she says. ‘So it was challenging for them to get used to dancing all the kicks and jumps with the big feet they all wear. They really needed to build up their stamina.’ (Kelly Apter)
Argyle Street, 276 9599. Find out about how Scotland’s seabirds live. Time Travellers: School Days Sat 9 Mar, 2pm. £2.50 (children £2). Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Relive schooldays from the 60s, WWII and Victorian times in this themed classroom session. Ages 5+. FREE Burrell for Families: Stained Glass Sat 9 Mar, 2–4pm. Burrell Collection, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 287 2550. Learn how the sparkling colourful glass is made. Ages 5–12. Laughology Family Workshop Sat 16 Mar, 10am. £5.50 (adults £5.95). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Alex the Magician leads a balloon art workshop. Ages 4+. Cargo Hold Comedy for Kids Sat 16 & Sun 17 Mar, 10am. £5. The Tall Ship at Riverside, 150 Pointhouse Place, 357 3699. Good, clean laughs for ages 12+. Part of Glasgow International Comedy Festival. FREE Spring Time Sat 16 Mar, 11am–noon & 2–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, 276 9300. Plant some of your own fruit and veg. Under 5s. FREE Discover! Portraits Sat 16 & Sun 17 Mar, 1.30–4pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. A trail to learn more about the gallery’s portraits. FREE Absolute Improv: Stories Sat 16 Mar, 2pm. Grosvenor Café, Grosvenor Theatre, Ashton Lane, 0845 166 6028. Shout out ideas for the comedians. Part of Glasgow International Comedy Festival FREE Burrell for Families: Stained Glass Windows Sat 16 Mar, 2pm. Burrell
Collection, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 287 2550. Check out the stained glass, before making your own. Ages 5–12. FREE Fossil Fun Sun 17 Mar, 1–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, 276 9300. Check out the fossil collection. Ages 5–11. Funny Puppets Family Workshop Sun 17 Mar, 3pm. £5.50 (adults £5.95). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Create your own rod puppet. Ages 4+; children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult. Part of Glasgow International Comedy Festival. 21 Feb–21 Mar 2013 THE LIST 67