KIDS
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 KIDS
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HITLIST THE BEST KIDS STUFF
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
Oct, 1pm. £tbc. The Mackintosh Church, Queen’s Cross, 870 Garscube Road, 946 6600. Create a fun and funky rod puppet character with help from the Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre. Ages 3+. Magical Mayhem Workshop Wed 16 Oct, 10.30am. £5.95 (£5.75). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. See how it’s all done, and learn a few tricks of your own with Alex Proctor. Ages 7+. Books & Storytelling FREE EB Colin: Pyrate’s Boy – Kelpies Thu 19 Sep, 6pm. Waterstones, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. Meet the author behind the fantastical tale about an 11-year-old from Greenock, who runs away and joins the crew of pirate Black Johnnie. September Storytelling Fri 27 Sep & Mon 30 Sep, 11.30am–2.30pm. Children £3; adults free. The Tall Ship at Riverside, 150 Pointhouse Place, 357 3699. Sailor Sally drops by with stories of sea voyages, merpeople and creepy creatures. Tall Tales Sat 5 Oct, 10am. £6 per adult and child. Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. Interactive storytelling session with movement, mime and props. Ages 3–5.
Tiny Tales Wed 9 & 16 Oct, 10am. £6 per adult and child. Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. Different tales every time, followed by a creative play session. Ages 6 months to 2 years.
Music Tonic Tinies: Inspiring Musical Adventures! Wed 25 Sep, 2, 9 & 16 Oct, 10.30–11am. £3 per session. Merry-Go-Round, 32–34 Nithsdale Road, Strathbungo, 07983 588675. Kids can enjoy exploring imaginative play through music and movement.
✽ Glasgow UNESCO City of Music Family Day Sat 28 Sep, 10am–5pm. Free–£2. Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, and City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. A day of music for toddlers to teens. The theme for the younger ones is Fairytales, Adventure and Fantasy, so don’t forget to dress up. See preview, right.
Theatre & Dance Friends Electric Fri 20 Sep, 10.30am & 1pm. Sat 21 Sep, 2pm. £8 (£3.50–£4.50). Platform, The Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road, Easterhouse, 276 9696. Visible Fictions’ magical story with robots, all about what it means to be human. Ages 4+.
Watch out Edinburgh, there’s a new kid on the east coast block. Well, OK, chances are Dundee’s bookish extravaganza might never quite reach the exalted status of the capital’s world-beating literary fiesta but it’s making a very strong case for itself with a series of events that includes the likes of Nick Cave, Jackie Kay, Alan Warner, John Carey and Iain Banks (pictured) plus an all-day comics conference. ■ Various venues, Dundee, until Sun 27 Jun.
Activities & Fun Time Travellers: School Days Sat 21 Sep, 11am–12.30pm & 1–2.30pm. £3.50 (£2.50). Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Re-live schooldays from the 1960s, WWII and Victorian times in this HEADLINE GOES HERE themed classroom session hosted by an actor. Ages 5+. FREE Burrell For Families Sat 21 & Sun 22 Sep, 11.30am & 1.30pm & 3.30pm. Burrell Collection, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 287 2550. A guided tour of the hidden collection. Children must be accompanied by an adult. FREE Giving Nature a Home – Autumnal Activities Sat 21 & Sun 22 Sep, 1–4pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. As winter begins to rear its head, make your garden into a cosy home for wildlife. An RSPB event. FREE One of a Kind Sat 21 & Sun 22 Sep, 1.30–4pm. Riverside Museum, 100 Pointhouse Place, 287 2660. Create a customised vehicle that’s totally unique. FREE Family Friendly Weekend Sat 28 & Sun 29 Sep, 11am–3.30pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Creative workshops for families inspired by Glasgow Museums’ collections, plus short, family-friendly tours throughout the day. FREE Old Skool Sat 28 Sep, 11am– 4pm. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Turn school days on their head at this fun day. FREE Horrible Heidie Tours Sun 29 Sep, 1.30–2.45pm. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Think school is bad these days? Take this interactive tour of SSSM and experience just how bad kids in the olden days had it. Glasgow Kids Comedy Club Sun 6 Oct, 3pm. £4. The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. Live comedy for younger fans, particularly those aged 8–12. FREE Half Term Fun at Pollok Country Park Sat 12–Thu 17 Oct, 11am–3.30pm. Pollok Visitor Centre, Pollokshaws Road, 632 9299. Autumn crafts for young nature lovers. Gingerbread Man and Teddy Bear Mon 14 Oct, 10am–1pm & 3–4pm. £1.50–£2.50. Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Fun, family- friendly puppet making drop-in session.
✽ The Big Draw: Draw Tomorrow Mon 14–Thu 17 Oct, noon–3pm. Included in admission. The Tall Ship at Riverside, 150 Pointhouse Place, 357 3699. Materials are provided at these art sessions for children and adults, where you can create drawings based on what you think the ship could look like in the future. Funky Puppets Workshop Tue 15
✽ James and the Giant Peach Join young James as his world takes a turn for the interesting inside a giant fruit, in this production from Roald Dahl specialists Birmingham Stage Company. King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, Thu 19–Sat 21 Sep.
✽ Glasgow UNESCO City of Music Family Day A packed day of music activities, from performances to workshops, with something for everybody whether you’re a toddler or teen. See preview, page 67. Royal Concert Hall and City Halls, Glasgow, Sat 28 Sep.
✽ Dinosaur Zoo Learn what makes a dinosaur tick,
and how to look after it, in this innovative show from Australia. See preview, right. King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, Fri 27–Sun 29 Sep.
✽ Tiger Tale Contemporary dance company Barrowland
Ballet explore family life in this show for ages six and over. See preview, page 100. Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, Fri 20 Sep; Macrobert, Stirling, Sat 28 Sep.
✽ Jason and the Argonauts Greek myth done the Visible
Fictions way, with Argonauts played by action men and two energetic performers who give their all. Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Wed 25 & Thu 26 Sep.
✽ The Big Draw: Draw Tomorrow Happening
across the UK, the Big Draw is great fun to get involved with, and the Tall Ship is providing lots of materials at these art sessions for both children and grown-ups. The Tall Ship, Glasgow, Mon 14– Thu 17 Oct.
INTERACTIVE SHOW DINOSAUR ZOO King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, Fri 27–Sun 29 Sep
Animal handling sessions at the zoo usually involve creatures of the cute and cuddly variety – or who, at the very least, have a pulse. The brainchild of Australian physical theatre company Erth, Dinosaur Zoo proves that being extinct for over 60 million years needn’t stop an animal getting its head petted. ‘We teach the audience aspects of animal husbandry,’ explains
the show’s director, Scott Wright, ‘and invite some members of the audience onto the stage to assist us with feeding and caring for our dinosaurs.’ The dinosaurs in question are realistic puppets of all shapes and sizes, brought to life by two puppeteers, and kept in check by a friendly and informative ‘zoo keeper’. ‘Most people’s experience of dinosaurs is based on inanimate
objects in museums or as animated creatures in film or television,’ says Wright. ‘So by bringing our dinosaurs onto the stage, we take you one step closer.’ This family show, aimed at anyone aged three years and over, is the latest in a long line of entertainment centred on prehistoric beasts. But, according to Wright, the characters you’ll meet at Dinosaur Zoo are a far cry from the likes of Barney, Dino from The Flintstones or Toy Story’s Rex.
‘None of the dinosaurs in our show speak, teach children to count, wear clothes, drive trains or live in houses,’ says Wright. ‘Of course, dinosaurs can be used as a gateway for learning, which is always commendable, but sometimes this can be exploited well beyond any real validation. We hope that in our show we impart some valued lessons about the true nature of animal behaviour – whilst having some fun and a good laugh, too.’ (Kelly Apter)
68 THE LIST 19 Sep–17 Oct 2013 19 Sep–17 Oct 2013 THE LIST 68