KIDS
Glassford Street, 553 4888. An afternoon lock-in for 4–11 year olds, with chart tunes, a streetdance instructor, karaoke, jewellery making, plus a relaxing parents room. FREE Wee Wednesdays Wed 4 Dec, 2–3pm. Burrell Collection, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 287 2550. Get ready for the festive season by making a bauble for the tree. Crafty Christmas Sat 7 & Sun 8 Dec, 1–4pm. £5 suggested donation. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Wildlife-related festive crafts with help from the RSPB. FREE Burrell For Families Sat 7 Dec, 2–4pm. Burrell Collection, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 287 2550. Make a cute trinket at the Christmas Ornaments family drop-in session. FREE A Grand Day Out Sat 7 Dec, 2–4pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Games and dressing-up for grandparents and grandkids, exploring Henry and Homel’s Bringing in the Mistletoe. Pantomime Workshop Sun 8 Dec, 2.30–4pm. £6. Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. Panto workshop for ages 8–12. Books & Storytelling Tall Tales Sat 16 Nov, 10am. £6 per adult and child. Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. Interactive storytelling session with movement, mime and props. Ages 3–5. FREE Paraig MacNeil Fri 29 Nov, 10.30am–1pm. Mitchell Library, North Street, 287 2999. Paraig MacNeill shares stories, songs, riddles and rhymes. Part of Book Week Scotland. FREE Saturdays at St Mungo Sat 7 Dec, 1–3pm. St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art, 2 Castle Street, 276 1625. Arts, crafts, storytelling and games designed to help youngsters learn more about St Mungo’s collections. FREE Behind the Magic Doors Sat 7 & Sun 8 Dec, 2–4pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, 276 9300. An exciting storytelling tour of the museum collections centre. Suitable for ages 7+.
Music The Singing Kettle: Christmas Wishing Well Thu 12 Dec, 10.30am & 1.30pm. £12–£13 (family £44–£48). Braehead Arena, Kings Inch Road, 0844 499 1700. Join the group as they search Kettle Village Square for the magical wishing well.
Theatre & Dance Tricksters Galore STM Fundraiser Thu 14 Nov, 7pm. £5.95 (children £5.75). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. An evening of illusion, sleight-of-hand, mind reading and magic, featuring Alex the Magician, Michael McCurry and guest. Ages 9+. Diving Belle Sat 16 Nov, 2pm. £5.95 (children £5.75). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Enter the magical world of Belle’s Carousel Café, where a storm is brewing. Ages 5+. Little Red Riding Hood Sat 23 Nov, 2pm. Sun 24 Nov, 3pm. £5.95 (children £5.75). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Fun adaptation of the classic fairytale. Frida and Frosty Fri 29 Nov–Thu 12 Dec (not Mon), 10.30am & 1.30pm (Sun 1 & 8, Sat 7 Dec, 4pm also). £7.50 (family £24). Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, 552 3988. Based on the story of Frosty the Snowman, this festive show is suitable for the whole family, especially ages 3–7. Peter Panto and the Incredible Stinkerbell Fri 29 Nov–Sat 4 Jan, dates and times vary. £8–£18. Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. See Theatre. Remember December Sat 30 Nov, Tue 3–Sat 7 Dec & Tue 10–Thu 12 Dec, 10.30am & 1.15pm & 3.15pm. Sun 1 & Sun 8 Dec, 1.15pm & 3.15pm. £8. Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. Flora forgot to post her letter to Santa. Will she receive any presents? Ages 3–6. 66 THE LIST 14 Nov–12 Dec 2013
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WINTER SHOW THE RED SHOES Tramway, Glasgow, Fri 29 Nov–Sat 21 Dec
Hans Christian Andersen didn’t shy away from the dark side, but even he excelled himself with the macabre punishment in The Red Shoes. Happily, for family audiences heading to Tramway this winter, the new stage version, created by Glasgow-based singer, dancer and performer Judith Williams, dispenses with the feet amputation in Andersen’s original.
‘There are moments when you can see where my character, Judy Two
Shoes, could have made other choices,’ says Williams. ‘And this is a cautionary tale, so I do get my feet hurt. But it’s not quite like the original.’
The first ever ‘winter show’ at Tramway (notice the deliberate absence
of the words ‘Christmas’ or ‘festive’), The Red Shoes plays with size and scale to evoke the disparate worlds of the countryside and the city. ‘The animals in the forest are human sized,’ explains Williams, ‘and then there are moments in the city when the high rise flats are made out of shoeboxes. The show seesaws between the city and the forest, so that Judy Two Shoes has one foot in each world and is trying to make her way between them.’ Joined on stage by four other performers, including musicians on cello, brass and guitar, Williams has injected her own love of the outdoors into the performance.
‘If I haven’t been to the park for a while, I’ll get caught up in the city
pace,’ she says. ‘And in the same way that the frog in this show lives in and out of the water, I think it’s the same with humans: we need a dose of the countryside in order to be able to sustain ourselves truly in the city .’ (Kelly Apter)
Baby Loves Disco Sun 1 Dec, 4–6pm. £8 per child; accompanying parents free. Mansion House, The Glasshouse, 20 Glassford Street, 553 4888. A chance for kids aged six months–seven years (and their parents) to get their grooves on at this Christmas special.
✽ Lapin Wants to See Santa Sat 7 Dec, 2pm. £5.95 (children £5.75). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. The bilingual bunny invites Père Noël round for hot chocolate. English performance with French keywords throughout. Ages 3+.
EDINBURGH Activities & Fun FREE Magic Carpet Minis Thursdays 14, 21 & 28 Nov, 5 & 12 Dec, 10.30– 10.50am & 11.30–11.50am. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. Songs, stories and rhymes for ages 0–2. Exploring through Drawing Saturdays 16, 23 & 30 Nov, 10am–noon. £5 per child. Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, 0845 874 3001. Art classes for ages 7–11. FREE Basket Making Sat 16 Nov, 10.30am–12.30pm. Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate, 529 4143. Be inspired by the fine specimens made by Adam Smith’s mother before creating your own traditional basket. FREE Creature Characters Sat 16 Nov, 12.30–2.30pm. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3993. Create a lollipop stick puppet inspired by The Lion King. FREE Magic Carpet Wednesdays 20 & 27 Nov, 4 & 11 Dec, 10.30–10.55am & 11.30–11.55am. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. All aboard the magic carpet for fun activities, stories and songs. Ages 2–4. A Magical Edwardian Christmas Sat
23 & Sun 24 Nov, 10am–1pm. £6. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. See how the Edwardians celebrated Christmas 100 years ago. FREE Create a Caricature Sat 23 Nov, 10am–noon. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3993. Be inspired by caricaturist Walter Geikie, then draw some of your own. FREE Sketchy Books Sat 23 Nov, 10.30am–12.30pm. The People’s Story, Canongate Tolbooth 163 Canongate, 529 4057. Visit the bookbinder’s display at the People’s Story Museum, then nip to the Museum of Edinburgh to create a sketchbook using some traditional methods. FREE Jungle Jewellery Sat 23 Nov, 12.30–2.30pm. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3993. Create some Africa- inspired jewellery. No Pencils Allowed! Sat 23 Nov, 2–4pm. £5 per child or £8 for two. Edinburgh Printmakers, 23 Union Street, 557 2479. Pencils are banned from this workshop for kids ages 6+, where they’ll collaborate on visual challenges. FREE Meet the Ancestors Sun 24 Nov, 2pm & 2.45pm & 3.30pm. Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, 624 6200. Explore history using costumes, props and your imagination. Ages 4–12. Pop Lock-In Sun 24 Nov, 3.30–5.30pm. £8 per child (parents free). Electric Circus, 36–39 Market Street, 226 4224. See Glasgow, Activities & Fun. FREE St Andrew’s Open Day Sat 30 Nov, 9.30am–4.30pm. Palace of Holyroodhouse, Royal Mile, 556 5100. The palace opens its doors for a free day of family fun. FREE Curious Castles Sat 30 Nov, 10.30am–12.30pm. Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate, 529 4143. Learn about different castles across Scotland, then make your own from recyclable materials. FREE St Andrew’s Day Celebrations Sat 30 Nov, 2–10pm. Grassmarket. A day
of children’s activities, stalls, ceilidhs, storytelling and workshops. Glittering Garlands and Lanterns Sun 1 Dec, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. £4. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Create some twinkling festive decorations. O Little Town: Christmas Village Models Sun 8 Dec, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. £4. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Design a paper town you can cover in glittery snow.
Books & Storytelling FREE Talking Trees Storytelling Sun 17 Nov, 2–2.45pm. Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2909. Talking Trees storytelling transport you to a magical land far, far away. Suitable for ages 5+. FREE My Own, My Native Land Tue 19–Fri 22 Nov, 5.15pm. Writers’ Museum, Lady Stair’s Close, Lawnmarket, 529 4901. A selection of Walter Scott’s stories, poems and songs, all performed by the good people of Theatre Tusitala. FREE Picture Kelpies Storytelling Sat 23 Nov, 10.20–10.50am, 11–11.30am & 11.40am–12.10pm. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Meet Heilan’ Coos, grumpy herons and mischievous Kelpies at this free storytelling session for ages 3–6. Book Week Scotland.
✽ FREE James Robertson: The Gruffalo’s Wean Sat 30 Nov, 11am. Waterstones, 26 Kinnaird Park, 0843 221 0185. Robertson reads from The Gruffalo’s Wean. FREE Bring Your Favourite Book Sat 30 Nov, 2–4pm. Museum of Childhood, 42 High Street, 529 4142. Share stories from your favourite book, then create a little bag you can keep handmade characters in. Haggis, Neeps and Mrs Mash! Sat 30 Nov, 11am–noon. £5. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Stories of Scotland with a side of delicious food and the chance to make your own butter. Ages 4+. FREE Blackwell’s Children’s Book Group Mon 9 Dec, 6pm. Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. Today: The Accidental Time Traveller by Janis Mackay.
Music Happy Ears Saturdays 16, 23 & 30 Nov, 10–10.45am. £5 per session. Calton Centre, 121 Montgomery Street, 07778 117333. Music group for dads/male carers and their little ones. Ages 0–3. FREE Kabuki Kids Sat 16 & Sun 17 Nov, noon–4pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. Create a Japanese paper or peg figure and get your face painted kabuki-style.
✽ FREE Big Ears, Little Ears Fri 6 Dec, 11–11.45am. Scottish National
Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, 624 6200. The tremendous Scottish Chamber Orchestra play a short concert of well-loved classics in a baby-friendly environment.
Theatre & Dance Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs Sun 24 Nov–Sun 1 Dec, Tue 3–Sun 8 Dec & Tue 10–Thu 12 Dec, 11.30am & 1.30pm. £10–£12. Paradiso Spiegeltent, St Andrew Square. Les Petits Theatre Company and Greenwich Theatre present the tale of young Flinn who embarks on a swashbuckling adventure. See Winter in Edinburgh Guide for more. Part of Edinburgh’s Christmas. Baby Loves Disco Sun 24 Nov, 3.30– 5.30pm. £8 per child; accompanying adult free. Electric Circus, 36–39 Market Street, 226 4224. See Glasgow, Theatre & Dance.
✽ The Selfish Giant Tue 3–Thu 5 Dec, Tue 10–Thu 12 Dec, 10.30am & 1.30pm.
Fri 6 Dec, 7pm. Sat 7 Dec, 2pm & 7pm. £10 (£7.50; family £30). Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. The wonderful Wee Stories presents a brand new take on the classic tale of a mean giant, who might just mend his ways. Hickory Dickory Dock Wed 4–Fri 6 Dec, 7.30pm. Sat 7 Dec, 2pm & 6.30pm. £7 (children £3; family £17). St Serf’s Church Halls, 1a Clark Road. stserfsplayers.org.uk St Serf’s Players present their family panto in the traditional style.