KIDS Books & Storytelling FREE Bounce ‘n’ Rhyme Session Sat 20 Apr, 10.30–11.30am. Mitchell Library, North Street, 353 8000. Action songs, rhymes and storytelling for under threes. Part of Aye Write! The Magic Man Sat 20 Apr, 10.30– 11.30am. £4. Mitchell Library, North Street, 353 8000. Magic, puppets and jolly good fun. Part of Aye Write! FREE Toddlers Tales Sat 20 Apr, noon–1pm. Mitchell Library, North Street, 353 8000. Bring books to life while engaging in physical activity through stories and rhymes. Ages 3–5. Part of Aye Write! FREE Alison Murray: Hickory Dickory Dog Sat 20 Apr, noon–1pm. Mitchell Library, North Street, 353 8000. Help author/illustrator Alison Murray celebrate her new book. Part of Aye Write! FREE Seiseann Biostag Leabhar – Gaelic Bookbug Session Sat 20 Apr, 1–2pm. Mitchell Library, North Street, 353 8000. Rhymes, songs and books in Gaelic for under fours. Part of Aye Write! Book Spine Poetry Sat 20 Apr, 3–4.30pm. £4. Mitchell Library, North Street, 353 8000. Create some poetry inspired by books. Part of Aye Write! Tall Tales Sat 27 Apr & 11 May 10am. £6. Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. Interactive storytelling session with movement, mime and props. Ages 3–5.
✽ Family Storytime Sat 4 & Sun 5 May, 10.30–11.30am & 12.30–
1.30pm. £5 (family of four £15; under 2s free). Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, 552 3988. Interactive session telling Kipling’s How the Camel got his Hump.
Music Tonic Tinies: Inspiring Musical Adventures! Wed 24 Apr, 1, 8 & 15 May, 10.30–11am. £3. Merry-Go-Round, 32–34 Nithsdale Road, Strathbungo, 07983 588675. Imaginative play through music and movement. MUSICAL MARCH PROM ON THE PROM Portobello Prom, Mon 6 May
✽ RSNO’s Monster Music Wed 17, Thu 18 Apr, 1.45–2.15pm. £8 (per
adult + child; £10 per adult + 2 children; additional tickets £5 each). Henry Wood Hall, 73 Claremont Street, 225 3555. Introductions to the orchestra for ages 3–5.
✽ Children’s Classic Concerts: Britten and Beyond Sat 20 Apr, 3pm. £10–£15 (children £6–£9; family £29–£43). Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. Celebrate Benjamin Britten’s legacy than with Owen and Olly, a shedload of wonderful music and lots of birthday cake. See preview, page 69.
Theatre & Dance The Magic Horse Sat 20 Apr, 2pm. £5.50 (adults £5.95). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. The Scottish tale of a young man who exchanges his old mare for a black stallion. Ages 3+. Part of Puppet Animation Festival.
✽ The Mark of Zorro Tue 23–Sat 27 Apr, 7.45pm. £12 (£7). Tron Theatre,
63 Trongate, 552 4267. Visible Fictions brings the dashing man in black to the theatre stage. Ages 5+. Anchors Away Sat 27 Apr, 2pm. £5.50 (adults £5.95). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Join Pirate Pete on an adventure of magic, music and games upon the high seas. Ages 3+. The Scarecrow and the Lost Sister Sat 11 May, 2pm. £5.50 (adults £5.95). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Double bill of puppetry and sketches. Ages 3+.
EDINBURGH
Activities & Fun FREE Bags of Art Sun 21 Apr, 2–4pm. Scottish National Gallery of 70 THE LIST 18 Apr–16 May 2013
Despite the name of their organisation, the founders of Fun Fiddle are well aware that learning a musical instrument doesn’t come easy. ‘We’re called Fun Fiddle, but let’s face it, it’s not always fun,’ says Gica Loening of the Portobello-based group, ‘sometimes it’s really tough.’ For those who manage to stick in, however, the rewards are plentiful – including the opportunity to play your instrument alongside others. In 2009, Loening and fellow Fun Fiddler Jenny Gardner hit upon the idea of performing in Portobello’s most iconic area – the promenade – to show people what the adults and children in their classes had achieved. It was, says Loening, ‘fantastic’, so this year, as part of the Edinburgh-wide Tradfest, Prom on the Prom is happening again – only this time, you can join in, too.
Written by Gardner, Guid Friends can be downloaded from the
Fun Fiddle website (funfiddle.co.uk), and played on a wide range of instruments. ‘As long as you play it in the right key, you can join in,’ explains Loening. ‘People can either learn the piece by ear or use the music, whichever is best for them.’ Having mastered Gardner’s music, participants of all ages will walk
along Portobello Prom playing their instruments, accompanied by street band Kaboodle on trumpets, saxophones and drums. Once they reach the bandstand (or ‘Cake’ as it’s affectionately known) a celebratory ceilidh will take place. Non-playing bystanders along the way are, of course, very welcome. Choosing the right music for the event was crucial, says Loening:
‘Fun Fiddle’s repertoire is quite adventurous, but for Prom on the Prom we needed an accessible piece that was quite easy to learn. Jenny’s a fantastic composer, and Guid Friends is just a gem, with some very easy rhythms and harmonies underneath the main tune that beginners can play.’ (Kelly Apter)
Modern Art Two, 73 Belford Road, 624 6200. Explore the gallery and make your own art. Ages 4–12. Skint Knees Drama Classes Saturdays 27 Apr–30 Jun, times vary. £110 for full term. Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. See Glasgow, Activities & Fun. FREE Seashells on the Seashore Sat 27 Apr, 10.30am–12.30pm. Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate, 529 4143. Use flotsam and jetsam, moss, shells and sand to decorate a treasure chest. FREE Take to the Stage Sat 27 Apr, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. Museum of Childhood, 42 High Street, 529 4142. Make fun wee characters, inspired by the toys in the museum. Saturday and Sunday SYT Saturdays and Sundays until 30 Jun, 12.15–2.15pm. £110 for full term. Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. See Glasgow,
Activities & Fun. Fantastic Felt Sun 28 Apr, 10.30am–12.30pm. £4 per adult + child. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Spring has most undeniably sprung at Lauriston Castle – so take a wander and make felt versions of the flowers and beasties you encounter. FREE LaNua Youth Dance Group Thu 2, 9 & 16 May, 4–6pm. Portobello Swim Centre, 57 Promenade, 669 6888. Dance classes for kids aged 10–16 who fancy learning some new moves. FREE LaNua Youth Dance Group Fri 3 & 10 May, 4–6pm. Pilmeny Youth Centre, 44 Buchanan Street Leith, 554 0953. See above. FREE Mosaic Tiles Sat 4 May, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate, 529 4143. Create mosaic tiles inspired by the museums pained ceiling beams. Ages 5+. Hand Painted Pots Sun 5 May, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. £4 per adult + child. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Decorate an earthen pot with a wildlife pattern and plant some seeds to watch grow. FREE Art Cart Sun 5 May, 2–4pm. Scottish National Gallery, The Mound, 624 6200. Artistic activities for ages 4–12 and their families. Pond Life Mon 6 May, 10.30am– 12.30pm. £4 per adult + child. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. A spot of pond dipping (so wear your wellies!) then recreate the wildlife you saw using willow and tissue. FREE Wild Workshop Sat 11 May, 10am–1pm. Central Library, 7–9 George IV Bridge, 242 8100. The zoo pops into the library for an afternoon, bringing with it a whole bunch of animal knowledge. Ages 3+.
Books & Storytelling ✽ Robin Hood: The People’s Hero Sat 27 Apr, 11.30am. £8 (£6).
Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. A tale of good versus evil to bring in the spring. Part of TradFest.
✽ Gododdin Sun 28 Apr, 11am. £8. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Scotland’s oldest poem, told by a sixth century bard. Part of Tradfest.
✽ Macastory: In Auld Reekie Sun 28 Apr, 11.30am. £5 (£3).
Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Stories and songs telling the history of Edinburgh. Part of Tradfest.
✽ FREE Meet the Ancestors: Springtime Stories Sun 28
Apr, 2pm, 2.45pm & 3.30pm. Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, 624 6200. Storyteller and musician Marion Kenny with music and tales. Ages 4–12. Part of Tradfest.
✽ Telling Tales Storytelling Competition Sun 5 May, 1pm. £5
(£3). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43– 45 High Street, 556 9579. An afternoon of tale-crafting for youngsters competing for the second Young Storyteller award. Part of Tradfest.
✽ Tiny Tales Mon 6 May, 10am & 11.30am. £5. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Stories, rhymes and songs for wee ears. Part of Tradfest.
✽ The Incredible Book Eating Boy Sat 11 May, 10.15am, 12.15pm
& 2.15pm. Sun 12 May, 12.15pm, 2.15pm & 4.15pm. £3. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. Climb inside this unique installation for five minutes of performance, puppetry and projection. Part of Imaginate.
✽ Family Storytime Sat 11 May, 10.30am & 12.30pm. £5 (family
£15; under 2s free). Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. See Glasgow, Storytelling.