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
list.co.uk/kids
HITLIST THE BEST KIDS STUFF
✽ Stick Man Julia Donaldson’s popular picture
book jumps on to the stage in lively fashion, in this charming musical show. See review at list.co.uk. St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, until Sun 4 Jan.
✽ Hare and Tortoise Licketyspit take on Aesop’s
fable and give it an energetic new look, with songs, poems and puppetry. North Edinburgh Arts Centre, Thu 11–Sat 20 Dec.
✽ The Singing Kettle: Big Christmas Party
Catch them while you still can – the legendary Singing Kettle embarks on its last ever tour. See preview, page 91. Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Fri 12–Sun 14 Dec; Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, Mon 22–Wed 24 Dec.
✽ White The arrival of colour into a world of white feels
truly magical in this award- winning show from Catherine Wheels, aimed at ages four and under. See preview, right. Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Wed 17 –Wed 24 Dec.
✽ The RSNO Christmas Concert: The Snowman
Blythe Duff (pictured) narrates The Snowman at this popular Christmas concert for all the family. Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sat 20 Dec; Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Sun 21 Dec.
Go-Round, 32–34 Nithsdale Road, Strathbungo, 423 2299. Music and percussion workshops with Ross and his Nature Detectives. Ages up to 18 months. FREE Saturday Art Club Sat 13 Dec, 10.30am–12.30pm. Gallery of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square, 287 3050. Make personalised Christmas gift tags. Ages 3–12. FREE Scotland Street Santa School Sat 13, Sun 14, Sat 20 & Sun 21 Dec, 11am, 1pm & 3pm. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Learn some crucial Santa skills. Make your own Santa beard, learn how to control a sleigh and make some yummy reindeer food. FREE Victorian Decorations Sat 13 & Sun 14 Dec, 12–4pm. Riverside HEADLINE GOES HERE Museum, 100 Pointhouse Place, 287 2660. Festive arts and crafts inspired by Victorian times. Crafty Christmas Sat 13 & Sun 14 Dec, 1–4pm. £5 suggested donation. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Some wildlife- related crafts with a little help from the RSPB. Firefly Yoga for Youth Wed 17 Dec, 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. Irn-Bru Carnival Fri 19 Dec–Sun 11 Jan, times vary. £13. SECC, Finnieston Quay, 248 3000. Waltzers, dodgems, stomach churning drops and gentler rides for wee ones. Breakfast with Santa Sat 20 & Sun 21 Dec, 9–11am. £12.95 (children £9.95). Hard Rock Café, 179 Buchanan Street, 353 8790. A festive breakfast for all the family with entertainment, games and a visit from Santa. The Great Christmas Puppet Making Workshop Sat 20 Dec, 10am & 2pm. £6.50 (children £5.95). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Kids can create a puppet elf, reindeer or fairy . Baby Loves Disco Sun 28 Dec, 1pm. £8.95. Hummingbird, 186 Bath Street, 07986 527947. A chance for preschoolers and their parents to enjoy some dayclubbing, with activities, snacks and chill-out area. Pop Lock-In Sun 28 Dec, 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. Glasgow Kids Comedy Club Sun 4 Jan, 3pm. £4. The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. A selection of comedians tweak their material for audiences aged 8–12.
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 Nature Detectives Music and Rhythm Fri 12 Dec, 19 Dec, 9 Jan & 16 Jan. 11am–noon. £4.50. Merry- 90 THE LIST 11 Dec 2014–5 Feb 2015
Books & Storytelling FREE Kidding On Mon 15 Dec, P4–P7 4-6pm, S1–S3 6.30—9.30pm. The Village Storytelling Centre, St James’ Parish Church, 183 Meiklerig Crescent, 882 3025. A storytelling club exclusively for young people. Music FREE A Very Merry Barrowlands Christmas Sat 13, Sun 14, Tue 23 & Tue 30 Dec, 1–4pm. People’s Palace & Winter Gardens, Glasgow Green, 276 0788. Christmas songs and dance for all the family.
FREE ABC, Music and Me Mondays, 12–1pm. St Francis Centre, 405 Cumberland Street, 429 0275. Activities for kids aged 2–5 encompassing music, dance and movement. FREE Sing Out Children’s Choir Tuesdays, 3.30–5pm. St Margaret’s Scottish Episcopal Church, 353–355 Kilmarnock Road, Newlands, 636 1131. Choir for kids in P4–7 who want to get into singing.
✽The RSNO Christmas Concert: The Snowman Sat 20 Dec, 2pm & 6pm. £15–£35 (£7.50–£17.50). Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. A family-friendly concert of seasonal tunes, including a screening of The Snowman with live musical accompaniment.
Theatre & Dance Miracle on 34 Parnie Street Thu 11 Dec–Sun 4 Jan, times vary. £9–£18 (family £40–£56). Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. Johnny McKnight plays Kristine Kringle in this kitsch pantomime. See review, page 114. The Three Little Pigs Thu 11—Mon 22 Dec, times vary. £12 (£5; children £6). Platform, The Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road, Easterhouse, 276 9696. The wolf has blown down their houses and the three pigs are forced to take their Christmas elsewhere. Ages 5+. The Elf By Herself Thu 11 Dec–Sat 13 Dec, Tue 16 Dec–Thu 18 Dec, Sat 20 Dec, Mon 22 Dec–Wed 24 Dec & Wed 31 Watch out Edinburgh, there’s a new kid on the east coast block. Dec, 10.30am & 1.15pm & 3.15pm. Sun Well, OK, chances are Dundee’s bookish extravaganza might never 14 Dec, Sun 21 Dec & Sat 27 Dec–Tue quite reach the exalted status of the capital’s world-beating literary 30 Dec, 1.15pm & 3.15pm. £8 (family fiesta but it’s making a very strong case for itself with a series £21–£28). Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 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.
552 4267. Festive show about the elf who grew tall. Ages 3–6. The Little Boy that Santa Claus Forgot Thu 11 Dec–Sun 4 Jan, times vary. £9.50 (children £5.50; family £25). The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. The tale of a young boy who doesn’t enjoy Christmas until the tradition suddenly disappears. Ages 3–8. Wild Heather Thu 11—Mon 29 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. Glimmer Thu 11 Dec–Sun 21 Dec, times vary. £6–£12 (£8; family £32). Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, 0845 330 3501. From the creators of Albert Drive and Junction 25 comes this dynamic, feel- good show for the whole family.
✽The Singing Kettle: Big Christmas Party Fri 12 Dec,
10.30am & 1.30pm. Sat 13 Dec, 11am & 2pm. Sun 14 Dec, noon & 3pm. £13.50. Braehead Arena, Kings Inch Road, 0844 499 1700. See preview, right. Lapin Wants to See Santa Sat 13 Dec, 2pm. £6.50 (children £5.95). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. A festive story about a bilingual bunny. English performance with French keywords throughout. Ages 3+. Looking for Nessie Sat 17 Jan, 2pm. £5.95 (£5.95). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Talking Heads present a show about the mythical monster.
I
E D R B C M S A L G U O D
EARLY YEARS THEATRE WHITE Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Wed 17–Wed 24 Dec
For something so simple, it can be awfully hard to get right. Creating theatre for a pre-school audience is a fine balance of ‘suddenlys’ (moments where things change and recharge a child’s focus) and gentleness. Get it wrong, and you’ll have a room full of tinies wandering in
boredom or howling in fear. Get it right, and you’ll have a hit on your hands – which is exactly what happened with Catherine Wheels’ popular show, White.
Premiering in 2010, the show has garnered multiple awards, toured
the world, and been performed over 800 times. Aimed at two to four-year-olds, White is a perfect 40 minutes long and centres on two characters who slowly allow colour into their world. To what does performer Andy Manley attribute the show’s enduring
appeal? ‘I think the idea is really simple but it resonates with the audience – and I mean all of the audience regardless of age,’ he says. ‘So many adults say they forgot they were at a children’s show and just watched as an audience member, which I love.’ That said, it was the little ones Manley and the team most considered
during White’s creation. ‘We were keen to have recognisable things that a two-year-old could understand and relate to,’ says Manley. ‘Although they’re very small, they have definite routines in their life and the two characters in White go through these daily activities – getting up, getting ready, eating breakfast. The suddenlys can then start to appear, but the children have the framework of something they have seen before, so it’s not alarming.’ (Kelly Apter)