KIDS
KIDS list.co.uk/kids
HITLIST THE BEST KIDS STUFF
✽ Santa Land From the Santa Train to the Reindeer Ride,
Edinburgh’s Christmas has come up with myriad ways for families to get into the festive spirit. East Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, Fri 21 Nov–Sun 4 Jan.
✽ Stick Man Julia Donaldson’s well-loved picture book leaps onto the stage. See preview, page 67. St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, Sat 22 Nov–Sun 4 Jan.
✽ Santa Cruise Journey along the canal, play
games, sing songs and receive a gift from the big man in red. Re-union Canal, Edinburgh, Sat 29 Nov–Mon 22 Dec.
✽ Too Many Penguins? A chance for one to four-
year-olds to find out how many penguins you can squeeze into a small space, in this award-winning show by Frozen Charlotte. macrobert, Stirling, Tue 2–Sun 28 Dec.
✽ Children’s Classic Concerts and the RSNO The irrepressible Owen and Olly invite you to help them ‘Deck the Halls’ at their lively Christmas concert for 4 to 14-year-olds. Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Sat 6 Dec; Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Sun 7 Dec.
✽ Glimmer Sisters Rosie and Megan remind us what’s
important at Christmas time, in this new show for all the family. See preview, right. Tramway, Glasgow, Sat 6–Sun 21 Dec.
66 THE LIST 13 Nov–11 Dec 2014
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 Rowena McIntosh. ✽ Indicates Hitlist entry
GLASGOW Activities & Fun Firefly Yoga for Youth Wednesdays, 12–12.45pm. £4. Caledonian Taekwondo Health & Fitness Centre, 358 Netherton Road Anniesland, 07841 539336. Yoga for the young’uns, taught through creativity, play, mindfulness and relaxation. Dance with Babies Thursdays, 1.30–2.10pm. £5 (four classes £15). Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church, Observatory Road, 334 2788. Learn the basic steps of salsa, cha-cha and swing at these workshops for parents and babies. Monkey Drama Fridays, 9.45am & 11am. £5 per week; block of four £19; block of eight £36. Broomhill Community Chuch, 1 Norby Road. Fun and developmental classes for little ones. Suitable for ages 2–5. FREE Cranes and Canals Sat 15 Nov, 10am–noon & 2–4pm. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Create a multimedia city landscape by recycling wood, leaves, straw and other found materials. FREE Egyptian Treasures Sat 15 Nov, 1–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Get up close to objects made by Egyptians over 5000 years ago. FREE Future Cities Sun 23 Nov, 1–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Help build a mini model city using foam board and construction paper. FREE CoderDojo Sat 29 Nov, 11am. Glasgow Science Centre, 50 Pacific Quay, 420 5000. Coding club for girls aged 7–17. Email to book your place. Ponds in the Water Sat 29 & Sun 30 Nov, 1–4pm. £1. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Join the RSPB and OPAL to discover the life beneath the surface. Pop Lock-In Sun 30 Nov, 4pm. £8.95–£11.45. Hummingbird, 186 Bath Street, 0845 166 6039. An afternoon lock-in for 4–11 year olds with resident DJs and karaoke. Christmas special. Toddler Tuesdays Tue 2 Dec, 10.30–11.15am. £3 per child. The Tall Ship at Riverside, 150 Pointhouse Place, 357 3699. Songs, puppets, music, games and imaginative play for ages 1–4. FREE Scotland Street Santa School Sat 6 & Sun 7 Dec, 11am, 1pm & 3pm. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Learn crucial Santa skills, including how to control a sleigh and make reindeer food. FREE A Grand Day Out Sat 6 Dec, 2–4pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Grandparents and grandkids can learn about winter survival. Glasgow Kids Comedy Club Sun 7 Dec, 3pm. £4. The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. Comedians tweak their material for audiences aged 8–12.
CHRISTMAS SHOW GLIMMER Tramway, Glasgow, Sat 6–Sun 21 Dec
Christmas, as the glossy TV adverts will confirm, is all about how much stuff you can purchase, money you can spend and gifts you can receive. On the off-chance you’d rather buy into a different approach, Glas(s) Performance’s new show, Glimmer is touting the less glamorous notion that family, friends and quality time are the key to a good festive season. ‘We called the show Glimmer, because in dark times what is the
thing you can look to?’ asks Jess Thorpe, co-artistic director of Glas(s). ‘And the answer is each other. It’s not about stuff or shopping or all the things it sometimes feels like it’s about.’ To illustrate her point, Thorpe has recruited real-life sisters Megan and Rosie, only one of whom is filled with the Christmas spirit. ‘Megan has forgotten how to feel joyful about the season,’ explains Thorpe. ‘She’s focusing more on the fact that it’s cold and dark. So the story of the show is her sister trying lots of different ways to remind her what’s important: spending time with the people you love.’
Because Megan and Rosie actually did grow up together, the show features real photos and memorabilia which Rosie uses to remind her sister how much fun they’ve had over the years. ‘Megan and Rosie used to be in our young company, Junction 25,’ says Thorpe. ‘They’ve since gone to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Glasgow University, and come back as performers. The show is devised from their real-life Christmas stories, with Rosie showing Megan all the things she has to be joyful about. We’re using a personal story to explore universal themes of family, companionship and sharing memories.’ (Kelly Apter)
Books & Storytelling FREE Kidding On Mondays, P4–P7 4–6pm, S1–S3 6.30–8.30pm. The Village Storytelling Centre, St James’ Parish Church, 183 Meiklerig Crescent, 882 3025. A storytelling club exclusively for young people.
Music Tonic Tinies Wednesdays, 10.30– 11.30am. £3. Merry-Go-Round, 32–34 Nithsdale Road, Strathbungo, 07983 588675. Kids can enjoy imaginative play through music and movement. Sprog Rock Wed 12 & Fri 14 Nov, 11am. £5 (family £15). Eastwood Park Theatre, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, 577 4956. Informal, interactive gig for kids and adults. Suitable for under 5s. FREE Sing Out Children’s Choir Tuesdays, 3.30–5pm. St Margaret’s Scottish Episcopal Church, 353–355 Kilmarnock Road, Newlands, 636 1131. A new choir for kids in P4–7 who want to get into singing and musical fun. Family Disco Ceilidh Sat 22 Nov, 6.30–9.30pm. £5 (children £2; under 5s free). Hyndland Community Hall, 24 Novar Drive, discoceilidh.net A St Andrew’s Disco Ceilidh with traditional ceilidh dancing set to hits from the 70s right up to the latest chart tunes.
✽Children’s Classic Concerts and the RSNO: Deck the
Halls with Owen and Olly Sat 6 Dec, 1pm & 3pm. £10–£15 (children £6–£9). Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. Christmas
tunes with the irrepressible duo, a full orchestra and a squad of ballet dancers. Theatre & Dance Wild Heather Fri 28 Nov–Tue 30 Dec. times vary. £7.50 (family £24). Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, 552 3988. A variation on the Cinderella fable featuring a wild princess named Heather. Ages 3–7 and the whole family. Little Red Riding Hood & Aesops Fables Sun 16 Nov, 2pm. £6.50 (£5.95). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Kidglove Puppets present a fun adaptation of the classic fairy tale. The Amazing Thing Sat 22 Nov, 2pm. £6.50 (children £5.95). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Travel with the ‘Thing’ on a journey through Grimm fairytales. Featuring puppets and live music. The Elf By Herself Sat 29 Nov–Wed 31 Dec, times vary. £8 (family £21–£28). Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. Festive show about the elf who grew tall. Ages 3–6. Small Fables Sat 29 & Sun 30 Nov, 2pm. £6.50 (children £5.95). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Shadow puppet theatre inspired by the fables of Aesop and La Fontaine. For ages 3–8. Jack And The Beanstalk Tue 2 Dec–Fri 5 Dec, 7.30pm. Sat 6 Dec 2.30pm & 7.30pm. £10–£14. Eastwood