list.co.uk/kids
EDINBURGH Activities & Fun FREE Santa Land Thu 11 Dec–Sun 4 Jan, times vary. East Princes Street Gardens, Princes Street. Visit Santa’s Grotto, the Christmas Tree Maze, a children’s market and enjoy family- friendly rides. Part of Edinburgh’s Christmas. The 12 Elves of Christmas Elf Hunt Thu 11 Dec–Wed 24 Dec, 9.30am–4.30pm. £5 per family. Serenity Cafe, The Tun, 8 Jackson Entry, 111 Holyrood Road, 556 8765. Follow this story of the 12 elves of Christmas and find them hiding on the Royal Mile. Self-guided activity with story book Firefly Yoga for Youth Thu 11 Dec & Thu 18 Dec, 4–5pm & 5–6pm. £5 (eight classes £40). Studio D, The Basement, 4 Hutchinson Terrace, 07841 539336. See Glasgow, Activities & Fun. FREE Create Fri 12 Dec, 2.15–4pm. WHALE Arts, 30 Westburn Grove, 458 3267. Drop in arts and crafts. Mosaic, sculpture and textiles for ages 7–14. Santa Cruise Sat 13, Sun 14, Sat 20–Mon 22 Dec 10am, 12.30pm, 2pm & 3.30pm. £10 (under 12 months free). Re-Union Canal Boats, Edinburgh Quay, Fountainbridge, 261 8529. A cruise from Edinburgh Quay with games, songs, craft and a visit from Santa. Santa’s Grotto, Sleigh Rides and Soft Play Sat 13, Sun 14, Sat 20 & Sun 21 Dec, 10am & 1.30pm. £10. Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, South Platt Hill Newbridge, Ratho, 333 6333. Enjoy some soft play time and board a festive sleigh to meet Santa in his Christmas grotto. Owen Pilgrim: Making Do (Upcycling Workshop) Sat 13 Dec, 1.30–4pm. £5. Edinburgh Printmakers, 23 Union Street, 557 2479. Storyteller and artist Pilgrim uses stories and myth to help children connect to the natural environment. Baby Loves Disco Sun 14 Dec & 21 Dec, 3.30pm. £9. The Famous Spiegeltent, St Andrew Square Garden, 07986 527947. See Glasgow, Activities & Fun. Pop Lock-In Sun 14 Dec, 3pm. £8.95–£11.45. Electric Circus, 36–39 Market Street, 226 4224. See Glasgow, Activities & Fun. Party with Santa Sun 14 Dec, 3–5pm. £10 (under 11 months free). Tumbles at Portobello Gymnastics and Softplay Centre, 20 Westbank Street, 669 0878. Join Santa for some disco dancing and soft play larks. Mini Noel Wed 17 Dec, 10.30am. Thu 18 Dec, 3.30pm. £7.50 per child. Marchmont St Giles’ Church, 1a Kilgraston Road, 447 4359. French festive fun, suitable for under fives. Children’s Christmas Baking Course Fri 19 Dec, 9.30am—noon. £45. Edinburgh New Town Cookery School, 7 Queen Street, 226 4314. Learn how to bake festive treats. Ages 9–13. Mini Noel Sat 20 Dec, 10.30am. £7.50 per child. LifeCare, 2 Cheyne Street, 343 0940. See Edinburgh, Activities & Fun. Festive Family Fun Day Sun 21 & 28 Dec, 9.30am–4.30pm. Included in admission. Palace of Holyroodhouse, Royal Mile, 556 5100. Storytelling, face painting, arts and crafts, festive food and Christmas carol performances. Tales and Traditions of a Victorian Christmas Sat 20 Dec– Tue 23 Dec, 11.15am, 12.15pm, 2pm & 3pm. Included in admission. Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, 225 9846. Learn some of the origins of Christmas traditions from Victorian times. Festive Felt Mon 22 Dec, 10.30am– 12.30pm. £5. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 228 1155. Make unique felt Christmas decorations using craft materials or natural items foraged from the grounds. Teeny Tiny Toddler Fest Mon 12 Jan–Sun 18 Jan, 10am–6pm. £13.95 (£11.95; children aged 5–15 £9.95; under
KIDS
Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Cosy Christmas eve storytelling session with Fiona Herbert. Ages 4+.
Music ✽The RSNO Christmas Concert: The Snowman Sun 21 Dec, 3pm.
£15–£35 (£7.50–£17.50). Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. See Glasgow, Music. Family Singing Workshop Sun 18 Jan, 9am. Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church, 1a Mayfield Road, 667 1522. Choral workshop for all ages, with Julie Morrice. Part of Festival of Sacred Music.
Theatre & Dance ✽Stick Man Thu 11 Dec–Sun 4 Jan, times vary. £15–£18.50 (£13–£15.50;
family £46–£56). St Andrew Square, 0844 545 8252. Scamp Theatre bring Julia Donaldson’s popular picture book to life in this engaging family show. Ages 3+. Part of Edinburgh’s Christmas. See review at list.co.uk
✽Hare and Tortoise Thu 11—Thu 18 Dec, times vary. £tbc. North
Edinburgh Arts Centre, 15a Pennywell Court, 315 2151. Aesop’s tale is given a new and exciting treatment by Licketyspit, with bun baking, rapid rivers and frightening forests. Developed for 3–7 year olds, suitable for under 12s. Aladdin Thu 11 Dec–Sun 18 Jan, times vary. £14–£30 (£11–£27). King’s Theatre, 2 Leven Street, 529 6000. Panto veterans Grant Stott, Andy Gray and Allan Stewart take to the stage to present Aladdin, complete with special effects.
✽White Wed 17 Dec–Sat 20 Dec & Mon 22 Dec–Wed 24 Dec, 10am,
CHILDREN’S SHOW THE SINGING KETTLE BIG CHRISTMAS PARTY Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Fri 12–Sun 14 Dec; Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, Mon 22–Wed 24 Dec
If you grew up in Scotland during the past 30 years, chances are you’ll have no trouble completing the line ‘Spout, handle, lid of metal . . .’ But as of February 2015, the children’s theatre company who brought you that immortal line will be no more. After three decades of entertaining families, both on-stage and via their huge back catalogue of CDs and DVDs, the Singing Kettle will finally be taken off the boil. Company founders Cilla Fisher and Artie Trezise are shutting up
shop in Kingskettle Fife, and the current Kettle show performed by Gary, Kevin and Anya will be their last. ‘We’ve called the tour The Big Party,’ says Trezise, ‘because we didn’t want to call it the last show, we wanted it to have a celebratory feel to it.’ Despite ever-increasing competition from films, games and online content , ticket sales are still good, but not enough to sustain the size of productions they deliver, and Trezise didn’t want to do ‘less of a show’. From humble beginnings, delivering sing-a-long sessions in local
libraries, the Singing Kettle became famed for its large-scale shows and audience participation. ‘The more popular we got, the more money we could put into the shows,’ explains Fisher. ‘And people grew with us; once their first child grew up, they’d bring the next one along. We also had a great student following in Glasgow for years that used to hold Kettle parties.’ All of whom could complete the aforementioned rhyme with ‘ . . . what’s inside the Singing Kettle?’, soon to be sung on stage for the last time. (Kelly Apter)
5s free). Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, Castlehill, Royal Mile, 226 3709. An interactive exhibition using light, colour and reflection to create a sensory experience for toddlers. Booking essential. Books & Storytelling Panda Storytelling Session Sat 13, Sun 14, Sat 20 & Sun 21 Dec, 11.45am. Included in admission. Edinburgh Zoo, Corstorphine Road, 334 9171. Storytelling and puppetry for children under five. The story of Chi Chi and the missing bamboo. FREE Blackwell’s Teenage Book Group Sun 14 Dec & Sun 11 Jan, 2pm. Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8218. Regular book group for teens, with separate sessions for ages 12–14 and those over 14 years old.
FREE Mrs Mash: The Storyteller Cook Mon 15 Dec, 22 Dec, 29 Dec & 5 Jan, 10.30–11am. The Skylark, 241–243 High Street, 629 3037. Mrs Mash serves up delicious stories and songs for ages 4+. FREE Blackwell’s Children’s Book Group Mon 15 Dec & Mon 12 Jan, 5.45pm. Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8218. An hour of friendly chat about books for 8–11 year olds. Step into Christmas Mon 22 Dec, 10.30am & 11.45am. children £6; adults free. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. A creative Christmas storytelling and dance workshop with Rudolph the Reindeer and Bella the Snow-Angel. Ages 3–7. Stories Round the Tree Tue 23 & Wed 24 Dec, 1pm & 3pm. £5 (£3; children £3; family £14). Scottish
noon & 2pm. £10 (family £8 per person). Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, 228 1404. See preview, page 90. Cloud Man Wed 17 Dec, 1.30pm. £7.50 (£5). The Studio at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Potterrow, 622 8086. Join cloud expert Cloudia on a journey into the sky, featuring puppetry and storytelling. Ages 4–7. Scottish Ballet: The Nutcracker – Family Insight Sat 20 Dec & 3 Jan, 11am–12.30pm. £5.50 (£3.50). Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. Learn about the characters, story and costumes of The Nutcracker. Ages 6+. Cinderella Mon 22 Dec, 2.30–4.30pm. £7 (family of four £24; children under 2 free). Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, Newbridge, Ratho, 333 6333. Family friendly Christmas production for children under 10. Brat Kids Carnival Sat 27, Sun 28 Dec, Sat 3 & Sun 4 Jan, 3.30pm. £14. St Andrew Square. A colourful cabaret featuring mischief makers and circus acts. Part of Edinburgh’s Christmas.
OUTSIDE THE CITIES
Theatre & Dance ✽The Singing Kettle: Big Christmas Party Mon 22 Dec,
1pm & 4pm. Tue 23 & Wed 24 Dec, 11am & 2pm. £14. The Brunton, Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, 665 2240. See preview, right. Too Many Penguins? Thu 11 Dec–Sun 28 Dec, Times vary. £8.50. macrobert, University of Stirling, 01786 466666. A show that packs fun, laughs, entertainment and penguins into the mix. Suitable for ages 1–4. The Pine Tree, Poggle and Me Thu 11 Dec–Sun 21 Dec, Times vary. £8.50. macrobert, University of Stirling, 01786 466666. Sensory dance piece featuring live music, clapping rhythms and bubble popping. Suitable for ages 0–3. Aladdin Thu 11 & Fri 12 Dec, 10.30am & 7.30pm. Sat 13 Dec, 2pm & 7.30pm. Sun 14 Dec, 1.30pm & 6pm. £19 (children £15.50). macrobert, University of Stirling, 01786 466666. The classic tale of Aladdin gets a disco makeover (oh yes it is).
11 Dec 2014–5 Feb 2015 THE LIST 91