What’s On for Children This Week?

Artie’s Tartan Tales: The Singing Kettle’s creator and former star, Artie Trezise, is back with his exciting new production for the May Day Holiday! Traditional stories and songs with a Scottish accent, from The Three Little Pigs to The Train to Glasgow, with lots of joining-in for children and adults alike. For children aged 3+ and their families. 11am, Monday 2nd May, Netherbow Theatre, Scottish Storytelling Centre, High Street. Tickets cost £7/£5 (family ticket £20) and may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 556 9579 or online here. This event forms part of TradFest 2016.

Picturehouses Toddler Time: exclusive short screenings for pre-school children and their parents and carers. Today: Rastamouse – Mice Camera Action (U): There’s plenty of musical ambition on display in these fabulacious Rastamouse episodes! Author Michael De Souza says of his creation, ‘Rastamouse has a positive message for young children, promoting the need to understand what is right from what is wrong, and why, in a meaningful context – through understanding, love an’ respect, Rastamouse will always make a bad thing good’. 11am, Monday 2nd May, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets cost £3 per child, accompanying adult free.

Library Garden Club: fun and creative activities related to gardening! For ages 8-14. 3.30pm, Monday 2nd May and every Monday, North Edinburgh Arts, Pennywell Court, Muirhouse.

Tiger Tales: stories and crafts for children aged 4-8. 3.40pm Wednesday 4th May and every Wednesday, Oxgangs Library, 343 Oxgangs Road North. All welcome.

Creative Adventures: a free multi-arts project for young people with additional support needs and their families. The project features dance, music, art, drama and costumes, and for the next few weeks the group will be working towards making something to show at ‘The Awfey Huge Fantastic Variety Show’ at the Festival Theatre on 22nd June. 4-5.30pm, Thursday 5th May and every Thursday until 23rd June, WHALE Arts, 30 Westburn Grove. For more information or to book your place contact Kate on 0131 458 3267 or kate@whalearts.co.uk.

Grassmarket Matinée of the Month: Star Wars – The Force Awakens (PG). Thirty years after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, the galaxy faces a new threat from the evil Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and the First Order. When a defector named Finn crash-lands on a desert planet, he meets Rey (Daisy Ridley), a tough scavenger whose droid contains a top-secret map. Together, the young duo joins forces with Han Solo (Harrison Ford) to make sure the Resistance receives the intelligence concerning the whereabouts of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the last of the Jedi Knights. 2pm, Saturday 7th May, Grassmarket Community Project, 86 Candlemaker Row. Free (donations to the charity to support future screenings and events very welcome) but please book via eventbrite here. Please note that no food or drink can be brought into this screening from outside; the Grassmarket Project’s Community Café will be open – please support it!

BIG: a new theatre clown show for children aged 3-5 . Two friends are going somewhere new, with some things that they know – and some they don’t. Everyone tells them they are big and ready, so why do they sometimes feel so small? Come and help them to be as brave as a dinosaur or a superhero, just like you! Rachel Colles and Fiona Ferrier have created Big for nursery children who are about to go through the transition to Primary One, looking at what it is like to be small in a big world and starting somewhere new. 10.30am or 12 noon, Saturday 7th May, North Edinburgh Arts, Pennywell Court, Muirhouse. Tickets £5/£3/£2 (Good Neighbours) from NEA on 0131 315 2151 or admin@northedinburgharts.co.uk.

Studio Ghibli Forever: Laputa Castle In The Sky (PG) (English language version). The very first feature from Studio Ghibli, this action masterpiece gives the Indiana Jones franchise a run for its money. From the opening sequence, in which a young girl, Sheeta, floats down from the sky into the arms of apprentice miner Pazu, the film glows with adventure and magic, and we are soon off on a wild ride through the fantastical that grips and amazes. Hayao Miyazaki’s career obsession with flight is everywhere, with airships, biplanes, gliders, all manner of battle craft, and even a flying island – Laputa, Castle in the Sky. 11am, Saturday 7th May, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online.

Storytelling with Ink and Blot: in the Bothy with the menagerie! 11am, Saturday 7th May and every Saturday, Far From the Madding Crowd, 20 High Street, Linlithgow. Free: all welcome. For more information call the shop or email sally@maddingcrowdlinlithgow.co.uk.

St Bride’s Family Cinema: see your favourite films for free! Adventure, excitement, fun and laughs – everyone welcome. Juice and choc ices are available to purchase in the interval at 50p each. This week’s film is Home (U). Please note that all children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. 10.30am-12.30pm (includes interval), Saturday 7th May, St Bride’s Centre, Orwell Terrace, Dalry. Next week’s film is Planes: Fire and Rescue (PG).

Portrait Detectives: collect your kit, follow clues and solve a mystery from history! For ages 4-12. 2-4pm, Sunday 8th May, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free and unticketed. Supported by the Friend of NGS. Image © Alicia Bruce.

Filmhouse Junior: films for a younger audience. This week: Big Hero 6 (PG):  an entertaining animated adventure based on a Marvel Comics series. In the futuristic city of San Fransokyo, 14-year-old genius Hiro looks up to his older brother Tadashi. Tadashi is a student at the Institute of Technology, where he has developed an inflatable robot named Baymax, with whom Hiro forms a special bond. 11am, Sunday 8th May, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4 per person, big or small.

Lauriston Castle: John Law Meets The Reids – a Costumed Performance Event. In the early 18th century John Law was a famous economist, gambler and, dualist. He was one of Lauriston’s most colourful owners and he returns to the house 300 years after he last visited to find things have changed significantly. Join him as he investigates the house and meets the owners, Mr and Mrs Reid, during the Edwardian period. What will he think of the changes and how will they deal with a 200 year old visitor? 2pm or 3pm, Sunday 8th May, Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South. Tickets cost £5/£3/£12.50 (family ticket) or £6.50/£4.50/£17 with afternoon tea, and must be booked in advance via the Usher Hall Box Office, Lothian Road, in person, by calling 0131 228 1155 or online.