Tramway Family Day: Sunday 11 March

Tramway Family Day: Impossible Bodies aims to introduce children to contemporary performance through a fun, hands-on workshop and short performance presentation. Based on Colette Sadler’s performance, We Are the Monsters, the workshops will lead participants through an exploration of movement and transformation, facilitated by Colette Sadler and members of stammer productions.

Across the building a range of drop-in, free activities suitable for ages 0-12 plus parents and carers will take place offering the opportunity to make puppets, create mobiles and streamers, and play with live visual projections.

Performance tickets cost £2 each and are available in advance from Tramway box office.

All other activities are free, drop-in and places will be allocated on a first come first served basis

MacDonald Bros and Nikitta:judges for the Festival Stars

So we've heard that the MacDonald Bros along with Nikitta Agnes will be judging and performing at this years Festival Stars. It's a southside version of the X Factor and is open to school kids on the southside of the city.

Nikkita Agnes and the MacDonald Bros will be judging both the heats and finals of the competition. If you know of any budding stars or are desperate to see the Macdonald Bros yourself go to www.southsidefestival .co.uk

The Southside Festival Star

The Southside Festival, this week launched The Festival Star competition. This Southside version of X Factor is open to any person between the ages of 10 - 18, who attends a school within the Glasgow city boundary. There are several categories including singing, group, dance, solo. The prize is a slot on the main stage at the Southside Festival on the 23rd of May. Info and application forms are available on the Southside Festival website.

The Judges are will be announced soon...we'll keep you posted.

Carnival coming

The above and below images probably give you all the information you require. There is a carnival taking place in Queens Park from 3pm and then in the evening there is an after party in conjunction with SubClub taking place at the Glasshouse.

Theatre school for kids

2 youth theatre running in the south side.

One in Queen's Park Church, 170 Queen's Drive tel 0141 423 6037 on Wed 6.30 - 9.30 for 9 to 18 year olds.

One a Sunday at Langside Halls from 1.15 to 3.15 catering for 7 to 18 year olds.

No audition necessary just turn up. Both groups are rehearsing for their musical in June.

Re Shuffle at the Pierce Institute - Govan

An event called Re-Shuffle is on at the Pierce Institute in Govan on Saturday, their seems to be lots of interesting things going on for kids and adults.

The idea of Re-Shuffle is to present a series of activities ranging from things to do with the kids to how to become more active in your community. It will not be dull and boring, it will have interesting things for old and young, to try and do. We will cater for the book people, the film goers, as well as the experimental wean. We will be filling the MacLeod hall and other spaces in the Pearce with stalls and groups of all kinds.

Click here for further information

The Irn Bru Carnival at the SECC

On my way home last night, I noticed that there is a rather, brightly lit, large big wheel at the SECC. I had forgotton about the Glasgow Carnival, it's been along time since I 've been.

I am not really sure I 'd want to go back, my little nephew made me go on one of the rides in George Square and I suddenly realised that being turned upside down and spun around doesn't appeal to me...but if it does to you, here's the link to the website.

Irn Bru Carnival at the SECC

GYCT Present Ali Forty and the Thieving Babas

Soon, if not already, well be exposed to Christmas music, endless renditions of let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. The restaurants around the city have been advertising their Christmas menu's since Easter. The winter lights are up, and yes there are decorations in the shops. And here we are with our first Christmas post [Sorry].

If you'd like to take some time out on the run up to the big day and support a great organisation, book some tickets for the GYCT's Christmas Panto, Ali Forty and the Thieving Babas. I know it's not yet November but word has it this will sell out quickly, as their last show was fantastic. The show is on from the 12th to the 15th of December at 7,30pm every night, with a special matinee show at 2.30pm on the Saturday and is on at the Queens Park Church on Queens Drive.

You can book tickets by phoning 0141 423 6037 or 0141 634 2622
or email tickets@gyct.co.uk

Go Ape in the afternoon

We received an email from Richard Leyton who has advised that there are plans to create a Go Ape adventure playground in Pollokpark. There is a good page on the councils website explaining what this is, along with a feedback questionnaire let them know if you think its a good idea or not. Unfortunately, this hasn't been that well advertised and you need to send it back today - so get filling.

Not really had a proper chance to reflect on the proposals myself to decide if I think its good or bad. On the one hand, it will be a useful facility for kids in the city on the other, its taking over a bit of natural woodland and renting it out to private hands.

What do you think?

[Click here to find out more]

ps - I like the map on their site where the whole city appears to be covered in grass - what a green and pleasent land it would be.

Robots in disguise

On Thursday I dragged Ann along to the Imax, at Pacfic Quay to see the new Transformers movie on the big, big screen.
To begin with I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't in 3D but it turned out to be a blessing, as we would have left with a serious headache otherwise.

While I did enjoy the film, it does suffer from an overuse of the cgi camera. Directors can now use computers to achieve pretty much any shot they want, no angle or camera movement is out of bounds. But just because they can make the camera do a 360 spin, shoot up the side of a building, through an explosion and then fall to the earth doesn't mean they should.

The second half of the film is told almost entirely through this ever moving camera, which constantly flies up, over or around the Transformers, who themselves are made of thousands of constantly moving parts.

I find that the constant movement while effective in moderation during fight sequences does have quite a distancing effect. I think subconsciously the brain knows that the movement the camera is going through is not actually physically possible and it draws your attention to the fact you are watching a film. While this can be used intentionally to a directors advantage for example the sectional pans in David Fincher's Fight Club it is just off putting in your average blockbuster where its sole use is to be flashy and show off.

In saying all that, it is a film about giant alien robots coming to earth to have a big fight so I probably am being a bit harsh. Don't go looking for high art, go looking for popcorntastic big old robotic fights, a bit of humour and some high speeding chases. The first half of the film is good fun, with our young hero first coming into contact with the big robots to humorous effect and showing off the bad guys at their genuinely menacing best.

The last hour or so however all gets a bit busy for its own good, with a huge raft of characters introduced for not much reason and with the bad guys lacking the killer punch they displayed at the beginning of the film.

At £8 its a bit pricey but the film does show off the Imax massive screen to good effect and I think it is probably worth the cost.
Harry Potter 5 is also still on in selected showings with the last half an hour a full 3D spectacular. Ann is keen we go see that while its still on. The Imax website has info on times and dates for these two films along with their regular short film format which gives you the Imax experience at a cheaper price.

3D Harry Potter at the imax

I've been meaning to read the Harry Potter books for along time. Two weeks ago I borrowed the first book from my niece Gemma, and read it in three days. I really enjoyed it , so much so that last night I started the fourth book [yes I am a fast reader and yes I am slightly addicted]

Today I noticed that the the Imax Theatre are showing The Order of the Phoenix' in 3D, from the 13th of July.

I think I'll be purchasing some tickets for that...though I'll have to finish the fourth and fifth books before then.

http://www.glasgowsciencecentre.org/harrypotter5.aspx

Trying to be the 'favourite aunty'

I have my two little nephew’s coming to visit me this weekend. I am hoping the weather improves, it’s not great today, but Metcheck say’s it’s going to rain and unfortunately they’re normally right.

If it’s sunny I thought I could take them to Queens Park for a taster sailing course at the pond, and bring some bread for the ducks. Then we could have a quick look around the reptile house [I’ve never been before] and then a game of lawn bowls, at the council greens. Perhaps we could help Alburt in his quest to find the best café in the Southside and try out Queen’s café’s ice cream.

If it rains, then it could be a day to visit the Imax [seemingly they’re showing Harry Potter] and the Science Centre. I’ve been a couple of times now, the last time we were there, we sat in on a paper aeroplane making class, it was fun.

Or maybe I'll just have to learn and like playing the playstation....

What we did when the oil ran out

While out and about this lunchtime, I noticed a flyer for a free performance at the Pearce Institute, in Govan.

Hopscotch Thetare are performing their play ' What we did when the oil ran out' on Saturday 26th May @ 12 noon and 3pm. The plays suitable for 5-12 year olds and families and last for an hour. I am sure if your over 12 years...they'll still let you in.

The Callows family live a happy and care free life with two cars, four televisions and the usual bundle of bicycles which do nothing more than fill up space in the garden shed. But one day they awaken to shocking news - oil reserves really are running out! No more cheap petrol, no more cheap holidays, no more cheap anything. Life as we know it has to change.Follow the family on a roller coaster journey to discover alternative sources of power and a cleaner, healthier lifestyle. Can they learn to live in a world without fossil fuels? How can they cut back on energy use and, most importantly, how will we all survive without oil… ?

For your free tickets call 0141 440 2025 or email info@hopscotchtheatre.com

link:www.hopscotchtheatre.com

We are sailing - we are sailing

Last week I received a card from the Royal Mail advising that a package sent to me, had been 6p short in postage and so I would now need to pay £1.06. This could be either paid in person, or by attaching stamps for this value to the card, and dropping it into the post. I decided upon the latter, to save time and I attached 4 first class stamps and dropped it into the post box. Imagine my surprise the next morning when the very same Royal Mail card was redelivered to my house. I put on my coat and headed down to Victoria Road to find out what the story was. The woman in the post office admitted this was a common mistake and that the sorting office had accidentally sent it straight back to me instead of just keeping hold of it! Not the best system, but I did manage to get my parcel - turned out to be stuff that I'd needed the previous week and now wasn't worth the hassle.

Anyway, that troubled tale is merely to bring me to my journey home, which brought me through Queen's Park where I met a friendly chap called Ewan who is part of the "Sailing in the city" team who, in conjunction with Glasgow City Council are bringing sailing to many of the city's ponds this summer. Ewan is going to get his boss to email more info to us regarding dates but in the mean time, the important stuff is; it's for kids aged between 8 and 14, taster sessions are free, all boats are fully supervised and there are even short day courses with proper training and certificates. There are also evening classes on Tuesday nights between 4:30pm and 7:30pm. To find out more, visit their website www.sailinginthecity.org.uk/ or phone 0131 317 7388.

Like a kid in a toy shop

I've been looking for a wooden mobile for my new little nephew for the last month, but to no avail. I was beginning to feel like the bad Aunty, when a friend recommended Bumble kids toy shop on Nithsdale road, Polloksheilds.

It's an amazing toy shop, they have so many unusual toys, really nice and good quality. The people are really friendly too and gift wrapped my parcel for me.

They also have a website, so if your from outside Glasgow, or you're just feeling abit lazy, you can order on line.

I am now looking forward to my nephew's birthday, so I have another excuse to go back

Link: http://www.bumblekids.com/index.php

They've also got these great Bumble Southside T-shirts [ok I am getting carried away]

Update
Sadly Bumble Kids have closed their shop but you can still purchase toys through their on line shop.