list.co.uk/kids KIDS
Sat 21 Dec, 2.30pm & 7pm. Sun 15 Dec, 1pm & 4pm. Fri 20 Dec, 4pm & 7pm. £6–£8. Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, 0845 330 3501. Family adventure about the journey of Judy Two Shoes. Aladdin Until Sun 12 Jan, times vary. £9–£29.50. King’s Theatre, 297 Bath Street, 0844 871 7648. See Theatre listings. Little Ulla Thu 12 Dec, 6.30pm. £2–£3. Barlanark Community Hall, 33 Burnmouth Road, Barlanark, 773 1812. A Christmas show for little ones aged 3–5, with puppetry, interactive storytelling and music weaving the tale of a mountain goat who is a bit different from all the rest. The Edibles Fri 13 & Sat 14 Dec, 10.30am & 1.30pm. £8 (£3.50– £4.50). Platform, The Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road, Easterhouse, 276 9696. It’s wintertime and the bakery is host to a larder of magical festive treats. Ages 3–7. Little Ulla Fri 13 Dec, 6.30pm. £2–£3. Castlemilk Community Centre, 121 Castlemilk Drive, 634 2233. See above. Remember December Until Tue 24 Dec, times vary. £8. Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. Flora forgot to post her letter to Santa. How will she know if she’s on his good list to receive her presents? Ages 3–6. Jango’s Christmas Extravaganza Sat 14 Dec, 2pm. £5.95 (children £5.75). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Festive fun from Jango the clown who blends magic, juggling and slapstick. Ages 3+. Little Ulla Wed 18 Dec, 6.30pm. £2–£3. Cranhill Beacon, 200 Bellrock Street, 276 1591. See above. Little Ulla Thu 19 Dec, 6.30pm. £2– £3. Shettleston Community Centre, 54 Amulree Street, 764 1165. See above. Little Ulla Fri 20 Dec, 6.30pm. £2–£3. Bellcraig Community Education Centre, 10 Gorstan St, 945 2710. See above. Little Ulla Sat 21 Dec, 6.30pm. £2–£3. Barmulloch Community Centre, 46 Wallacewell Quadrant, 276 0875. See above.
✽ Scottish Ballet: Wee Hansel and Gretel Fri 20, Mon 23 Dec,
3pm. £10. Theatre Royal, 282 Hope Street, 0844 871 7647. Specially adapted hour-long version of the classic tale. See preview, page 89. Panto Family Fun: Aladdin Fri 27 Dec, 10.30am–noon. £10 (family £35). King’s Theatre, 297 Bath Street, 0844 871 7648. Peek behind the curtain to see what goes on behind the scenes of a panto. Peter Pan: The Never Ending Story Fri 10 Jan, 7pm. Sat 11 Jan, 3pm & 7pm. Sun 12 Jan, 11am. £20. The SSE Hydro, Exhibition Way, 248 3000. A high-tech telling of the classic children’s play, starring Stacey Solomon (X Factor). Looking for Nessie Sat 11 Jan, 2pm. £5.95 (children £5.75). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Do you believe in Nessie? Maybe keeper of the loch Angus McGregor can help you spot him.
EDINBURGH Activities & Fun Santa’s Grotto Until Tue 24 Dec, 10am–7pm. £5. East Princes Street Gardens, Princes Street, edinburghschristmas.com Santa’s setting up shop in the gardens with daily visits. Part of Edinburgh’s Christmas. Santa Train Until Sun 5 Jan (not Wed 25 Dec), Mon–Thu 10am–7.30pm; Fri– Sun 10am–8.30pm. £4. East Princes Street Gardens, edinburghschristmas. com All aboard the Santa Train for a ride around the gardens. Part of Edinburgh’s Christmas. FREE Children’s Market Until Sun 5 Jan (not Wed 25 Dec), 10am–10pm. St
Sun 15 Dec & 19 Jan, 2–2.45pm. Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2909. Talking Trees storytelling transports adults and children to a magical land. Suitable for ages 5+. FREE Blackwell’s Children’s Book Group Mon 16 Dec, 6pm. Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. An hour of friendly chat about books for 8–11 year olds. Today’s book is The Accidental Time Traveller by Janis Mackay. Stories Round the Tree Fri 20 & Tue 31 Dec, 12.30pm & 2pm. £5 (£3). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Cosy Christmas eve storytelling session with Tim Porteus. Ages 4+.
Film Arthur Christmas ●●●●● Sat 21 Dec, 1pm. Sun 22 Dec, 11am. Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, 228 2688. Arthur Christmas, the overlooked star of the Santa team, steps in when it looks like a girl’s present might not get delivered. The Wizard Of Oz ●●●●● Sun 22 Dec, 6pm. Mon 23 Dec, 3.10pm. Tue 24 Dec, 1.15pm & 6.30pm. Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, 228 2688. The classic feel-good tale of Dorothy and her friend in Oz.
Music ✽ The RSNO Christmas Concert: The Snowman Sun 22 Dec, 3pm. £12.50–£35. Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. See Glasgow.
Theatre & Dance ✽ Polar Bears Go Wild Until Sat 21 Dec (not Sun & Mon), 10.30am & 2.30pm. £8–£10. Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, 228 1404. Follow the polar bears on their exciting journey and enjoy comedy, music and Christmassy treats.
Andrew Square. edinburghschristmas. com A shopping experience just for people under four feet, with a wide selection of toys and gifts available. Part of Edinburgh’s Christmas. Christmas Tree Maze Until Sun 5 Jan, Sun–Thu 10am–7pm; Fri & Sat 10am–8.30pm. £4. East Princes Street Gardens, Princes Street, edinburghschristmas.com Find your way to the centre for a special present and then try and remember your way back out! Part of Edinburgh’s Christmas. FREE Magic Carpet Minis Thu 12 & Thu 19 Dec, 10.30–10.50am & 11.30–11.50am. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. Songs, stories, rhymes and more for ages two and under plus adults. The Family Gallery Fri 13, 20 & 27 Dec, 3, 10 & 17 Jan, 10–11am. £4 per child. Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, 0845 874 3001. Family art workshops for under 5s and their grown-ups. Twelve Days of Christmas Sat 14 Dec, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. £4. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Christmas crafts creating the offerings from the song. FREE Christmas Crafternoons Sat 14 & Sun 15 Dec, noon–4pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. All the family can make their own Christmas decoration. FREE The Sky’s the Limit Sat 14 Dec, 12.30–2.30pm. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 226 4965. Create a colourful landscape collage, inspired by The Lion King. Christmas Crackers Sun 15 Dec, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. £4. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Print some festive designs onto Christmassy boxes and crackers and make a Yule log for the dinner table. Breakfast with Santa Sat 21 & Sun 22 Dec, 9am. £12.95 per child; adults £9.95. Hard Rock Café, 20 George Street, 260 3000. Tuck into sausages and eggs with the jolly man himself. FREE Christmas Scenes Sat 21 Dec, 12.30–2.30pm. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3993. Create some Christmas pictures inspired by Walter Geikie’s pastoral scenes. FREE Christmas Art Competition Fri 27–Mon 30 Dec, 10.30am–4.30pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. Draw or paint objects inspired by the collection. Pop Lock-In Sun 29 Dec, 3.30– 5.30pm. £8 per child (accompanying parents free). Electric Circus, 36–39 Market Street, 226 4224. An afternoon lock-in for 4–11 year olds, with DJs, a streetdance instructor, karaoke and jewellery making. FREE How to Draw Animals Sat 11 Jan, 12.30–2.30pm. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3993. Learn how to draw animals just like in The Lion King. FREE Create a Caricature Sat 18 Jan, 10am–noon. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3993. Take inspiration from well-known caricaturist Walter Geikie, then draw some of your own. FREE Big Garden Birdwatch Sat 18 & Sun 19 Jan, 12.30–3.30pm. Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2909. Find out how to help the RSPB with their bird-spotting day, held annually all over the country. FREE Today’s Headlines Sat 18 Jan, 12.30–2.30pm. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3993. Create a headpiece, inspired by The Lion King. Books & Storytelling Meet Santa at the Botanics Fri 13–Sun 15 Dec & Wed 18–Tue 24 Dec, 10.30am–3pm. £4. Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2909. Snuggle up in Santa’s Grotto and listen to a few tales from the man himself. Ages 3+. FREE Talking Trees Storytelling
✽ The Lickety Tale of Molly Whuppie Thu 12, Fri 13, Mon 16 & Wed 18 Dec, 10am & 1pm. Sat 14, Fri 20 & Sat 21 Dec, 11am & 2pm. £7 (family £10–£12; good neighbours £4). North Edinburgh Arts Centre, 15a Pennywell Court, 315 2151. Licketyspit tells the traditional Scottish tale of Molly Whuppie and her many adventures, with live music accompaniment.
£10 (family £35; babies £2). Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. A condensed version of Scottish Ballet’s new Christmas show. See preview.
✽ The Selfish Giant Until Tue 24 Dec, times vary. £10 (£7.50; family
£30). Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. Wee Stories presents a new take on the classic tale of a mean giant. See review, page ??. Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs ●●●●● Thu 12–Sun 15 Dec, 11.30am & 1.30pm. £10–£12. St Andrew Square. Young Flinn finds a pirate in his cupboard and embarks on a swashbuckling adventure. Part of Edinburgh’s Christmas. Little Red Riding Hood Tue 17 Dec–Sun 5 Jan (not Wed 25 Dec & Wed 1 Jan), 11.30am & 1.30pm. £10–£12. St Andrew Square. A Christmassy take on the tale of the little girl with the red coat – filled with fun, songs and festive cheer. Brave Macbeth Fri 20 & Sat 21 Dec, 2.30pm. £7 (£5). Fettes College, East Fettes Avenue, 332 2281. New work by Sally Lyall (with a little help from Shakespeare) to help kids understand the story of Macbeth. Ages 4–12. Baby Loves Disco Sun 29 Dec, 1–3pm. £8 per person (non-walking babies free). Electric Circus, 36–39 Market Street, 226 4224. A chance for babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers and their parents to get their grooves on.
✽ Scottish Ballet: Wee Hansel and Gretel Fri 10 Jan, 3–4pm.
12 Dec 2013–23 Jan 2014 THE LIST 91