Easter Shows For Children

Various venues, April 6-8

Easter might have passed, but there are still plenty of school holidays left to run. In which case, this weekend can be passed in a marathon of theatre aimed at young children and happening across Dundee and Fife.

First of all, today’s Innocence at Dunfermline’s Carnegie Hall is a distinctive and innovative piece of “playroom performance” for children over the age of three, which uses the inspiration of William Blake’s work and life to create a surprising show filled with dance, music and play. It’s presented here by choreographer Fleur Darkin and Scottish Dance Theatre.

Also today at the Alhambra in Dunfermline, and tomorrow as well, is Funbox’s Dinosaur Safari, a new show from the team who were formerly in charge of Singing Kettle – Gary Coupland, Anya Scott-rodgers, Kevin Macleod and Bonzo the Dog – which features song, dance, audience interaction and lots of dinosaur fun.

On Saturday the Lochgelly Centre hosts The Wonderful World of Lapin, a sweet puppetry show for younger audiences which aims to give them experience of hearing a foreign language, in this case French, spoken in conversation.

It tells of cuddle bunny Lapin, whose quest to steal the prize carrot of host and performer Tania Czajka is essentially the majority of the story, and acts as an easy and gentle introduction to bilingual speech and thought for younger theatregoers.

On Tay Square in Dundee, meanwhile, Sokobauno Puppet Theatre company in association with the Dundee Rep Theatre present Feature Comforts, a play told within a classic, specially adapted green Little Fawn caravan.

It’s a show for over-fours which focuses on the senses and our connection with the outside world, albeit in a manner which little ones will understand.

The next day at the Adam Smith theatre in Kirkcald, two- to five-year-old children and their parents and carers can enjoy The Attic, the new show from Scotland’s specialist toddler theatre company Starcatchers, in association with Hazel Darwin Clements. It tells the simple story of a little girl exploring the attic with her Granny, and all the stories surrounding the items which the pair find.

Finally, Myths of the Vikings at Dunfermline Carnegie Hall, also on the Sunday, offers two stories in Thor’s Magic Hammer and The Apples of the Gods. Each seeks to shine a light on the soap operatic trickiness of ancient Norse mythology, although perhaps many who have seen a Thor film might feel they’re halfway there already. www.onfife.com www.alhambradunfermline.com www.dundeerep.co.uk

There’ll be activities happening throughout Fife across the weekend.