KIDS
Easter at the Castle Sun 20 Apr, 10am–1pm. £7. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Trails to explore and special crafts to create. FREE Bags of Art Sun 20 Apr, 2–4pm. Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art One, 75 Belford Road, 624 6200. Explore the gallery with the help of a bag of activities and make your own art. Ages 4–12. FREE My City: Recycled Musical Instruments and Puppet Making Workshop Fri 25 Apr, 2–4pm. Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7101. Create a puppet and instruments from stuff you’d usually throw away. Young Storytellers Fri 25 Apr, 2.30–4.30pm. £10. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. A chance for young people to improve the skills needed for effective storytelling, make new friends and have fun. Ages 8–16. Scandinavian Dancing workshop Sat 26 Apr, 10.30—11.45am. £5 per child (adults free). Grassmarket Centre, 86 Candlemaker Row, 07951 918366. Traditional and contemporary folk dance, with Danish folk dancer and musician Noa Shamir. Suitable for ages 5+ and their families. Part of Northern Streams. FREE Meet the Ancestors Sun 27 Apr, 2pm & 3pm. Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, 624 6200. Explore history using costumes, props and your imagination. Ages 4–12. Ages 7+. Edinburgh Living History 1910: Interesting Objects Sun 27 Apr, 3pm & 4pm. Included in admission. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. A chance to meet Mr and Mrs Reid, their staff, family and friends as they live their day-to-day lives at the castle. Pop Lock-In Sun 27 Apr, 4pm. £?. Electric Circus, 36–39 Market Street, 226 4224. An afternoon disco for 4–11-year- olds, with DJs, a streetdance instructor, karaoke and jewellery making. FREE Art Maker Sun 4 May, 2–4pm. Scottish National Gallery, The Mound, 624 6200. Drop in to the gallery and make your own masterpiece using materials provided. Ages 4–12. Pond Dipping! Sat 10 May, 10.30am– 12.30pm. £5. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. A spot of pond dipping (so wear your wellies!). Books & Storytelling FREE Titian’s Marvellous Myths Sat 19 Apr, 2–3pm. Scottish National Gallery, The Mound, 624 6200. Storyteller Marion Kenny introduces you to the mythical world shown in Titian’s paintings. Ages 7+. FREE Talking Trees Storytelling Sun 20 Apr, 2–3pm. Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2909. Talking Trees storytelling returns to transport adults and children to a magical land far, far away. Ages 5+. Young Storytellers Competition Sun 4 May, 1.30–4.30pm. £5 (£3). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. A new wave of storytellers (all under the age of 16) compete for the third Young Storyteller Award. Part of Tradfest. Tiny Tales Tue 6 May, 10am & 11.30am. £5. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Stories, rhymes and songs for wee ones aged 1–3. Part of Tradfest. Mrs Mash: Kail Yard Tales Sat 10 May, 11am. £5. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Mrs Mash – storytelling cook – tells you about crowdie, kale and happy herrings, through stories and songs. Ages 4+. Part of Tradfest.
STAND UP COMEDY GLASGOW KIDS COMEDY CLUB The Stand, Glasgow, Sun 4 May
The prospect of standing in front of a crowd of strangers, and attempting to make them laugh, would strike fear in most of us. It takes a special breed of person to choose stand-up comedy as a career – yet at the tender age of ten, Adam Weir is already convinced it’s the path for him. Having performed to an audience of 50 at the Edinburgh Fringe
(something most comedians could only dream of), he’s currently gearing up for The Stand’s monthly gig for families, Glasgow Kids Comedy Club. Joining three grown-ups on the bill, how does Adam think children in the audience will respond to being entertained by someone as young as them? ‘I think it will be quite surprising for them at first,’ he says, ‘but then they’ll see that I am quite funny, and not really notice it. It’s more the adults I’m wondering about – they’re kind of harder to make laugh than people my age.’ That said, he made me laugh during the interview. With a few gigs under his belt, Adam will be using his date at The Stand
to try out new material, which comes from a range of sources. ‘I don’t really talk about stuff – it’s more single jokes,’ he explains. ‘Some I’ve made up, some my dad has helped with and some are from Chic Murray and people like that.’ Proud dad Laurence has been helping Adam raise his profile, posting
videos of the young stand-up on YouTube and liaising with fellow comedians Nik Coppin and Patrick Monahan to procure stage-time for his young son. Despite that, Adam says he’s ‘thinking of doing stuff about my parents’ at future gigs. How does he think his dad will respond to that? ‘He’ll probably just give me a terrifying look.’ (Kelly Apter)
Festival ✽ Imaginate Festival Mon 5–Mon 12 May, times vary. £10 (family
tickets available). Various venues, 228 1404. Scotland’s international festival of performing arts for children and young people. See feature, page 24.
Music Happy Ears Thu 17 Apr, 10–10.50am. £5. Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 07778 117333. Music group for dads and male carers and their little ones. Ages 0–3. Happy Ears Sat 26 Apr, 3 May & 10 May, Times and prices tbc. Calton Centre, 121 Montgomery Street, 07778 117333. See Edinburgh, Music.
Theatre & Dance ✽The Secret Life of Suitcases Thu 17 Apr, 2pm. £8 (£6). Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. Innovative and charming puppetry show from Ailie Cohen, in which hard-working Larry embarks on an amazing adventure, after a strange suitcase appears in his office. Ages 5+. Part of Puppet Animation Festival. My City Fri 25 Apr, 11–11.50am. £6 (children £4). Out of the Blue Drill Hall,
30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7101. The story of two lost souls who cannot speak the same language and tell each other stories using their bodies.
✽ a small story: eine kleine geschichte Tue 6, Thu 8 & Fri 9 May, 1.30pm & 3pm. Wed 7 May, 9.30am & 11.30am. Sat 10 May, 10.30am & 12.30pm. £10 (family £8 each). Church Hill Theatre, 33a Morningside Road, 447 7597. A world of objects and visual storytelling for ages 2–4 year. Imaginate.
✽Cocoon Tue 6 & Thu 8 May, 9.30am & 11.30am. Wed 7 May, 1.30pm
& 3pm. £10 (family £8 each). Church Hill Theatre, 33a Morningside Road, 228 1404. A journey from the very beginnings of life. Ages 2–5. Imaginate. Grandad and Me Tue 6, Sat 10 & Mon 12 May, 10.30am & 1.30pm. Wed 7 May, 10.45am & 1.30pm. £10 (family £8 each). North Edinburgh Arts Centre, 15a Pennywell Court, 315 2151. See Glasgow, Theatre & Dance.
✽ O Snap Tue 6 May, 10.30am & 1.30pm. Wed 7 May, 7pm. £10 (family £8 each). Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, 228 1404. Dance performance about finding your own identity in an overloaded world. Ages 12+. Imaginate.
✽ Not Now Bernard Wed 7 May, 10.15am & 1.15pm. Thu 8 May, 10.30am & 1.30pm. Sat 10 May, 11.45am & 2.45pm. £10 (family £8). Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, 228 1404. David McKee’s iconic picture
book is brought to life. Ages 2–5
years. Imaginate.
✽ If Only Rosa Could Do Magic Wed 7 & Fri 9 May, 10.30am & 1.30pm. Thu 8 May, 10.45am & 1.30pm. Sat 10 May, 2.30pm. £10 (family £8 each). Artspace, 11 Harewood Road, 228 1404. The tale of Rosa, who creates a fantasy world full of dragons and parents who understand her. Ages 5–9 years old. Imaginate.
✽ Saltbush Thu 8 May, 1.30pm & 7pm. Fri 9 & Mon 12 May,
10.30am & 1.30pm. Sat 10 May, 11.30am & 3pm. Sun 11 May, 3pm. £10 (family £8 each). Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. An interactive journey through
the culture and landscape of Aboriginal Australia. Ages 4–8. Imaginate.
✽Up to Speed Thu 8 May, 10.15am & 1.15pm. Sat 10 May, 6pm. Sun 11 May, 3.30pm. Mon 12 May, 10.45am & 1.15pm. £10 (family £8 each). Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, 228 1404. A funny, moving tale about what it’s like to be the odd one out. Ages 8+. Imaginate.
✽ A True Tall Tale Thu 8 & Fri 9 May, 10.30am & 1.30pm & 7pm. Sat 10 May, 11.45am & 3pm. £10 (family £8 each). Southside Community Centre, 117 Nicolson Street, 667 0484. Watch this bedtime fairytale unfold from the comfort of your hammock. Ages 8+. Imaginate.
✽ Tetris Thu 8 May, 10.30am & 1.30pm. Fri 9 May, 10.45am. Sat
10 May, 11.30am. £10 (family £8 each). North Edinburgh Arts Centre, 15a Pennywell Court, 315 2151. Contemporary piece that starts as a game of interlocking shapes and morphs into an exploration of individuality and team work. Ages 6+. Imaginate.
✽ Manxmouse Fri 9 May, 10.15am & 7pm. Sun 11 May, noon & 3pm. Mon 12 May, 10.30am & 1.30pm. £10 (family £8 each). Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, 228 1404. Adventurous play featuring puppets, animation and music. Ages 6+. Imaginate.
✽Too Many Penguins? Fri 9 May, 10.30am. Sat 10 May, 2.30pm &
4.30pm. Sun 11 May, 1.30pm & 3.30pm. Mon 12 May, 9.30am & 11.30am. £10 (family £8 each). Church Hill Theatre, 33a Morningside Road, 447 7597. See Glasgow, Theatre & Dance.
✽The Secret Life of Suitcases Sat 10 May, 1pm & 3pm. £8 (£6).
Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. See Edinburgh, Theatre & Dance.
OUTSIDE THE CITIES
Activities & Fun Let’s Dance Festival Thu 17–Thu 15 May, times vary. Prices vary. macrobert, University of Stirling, 01786 466666. Dance performances and workshops in a range of styles.
✽Children’s Classic Concerts: Junk Trunk Sun 27 Apr, 3pm.
£10 (£6). macrobert, University of Stirling, 01786 466666. Owen and Ollie’s latest concert turns junk into musical instruments.
Music The Singing Kettle: Fantastic Funfair Sat 3–Mon 5 May, noon & 3pm. £12 (family £44). macrobert, University of Stirling, 01786 466666. The Kettle gang have an adventure at the funfair.
5 (cid:2) 12 MAY 2014 Scotland’s international festival of performing arts for children and young people. JOIN US FOR OUR 25TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS Tickets: traverse.co.uk & 0131 228 1404 | For more info visit: imaginate.org.uk
66 THE LIST 17 Apr–15 May 2014