The Traverse Theatre Young Writers’ Showcase, First Bite, next week. The Edinburgh theatre’s young writers groups, aged 15-23, are in the process of developing their scripts which will be performed at a free event on January 24, 7.30pm. Working with the youngsters are the Traverse’s own directors, John Tiffany and John Mitchell, playwright Louise Ironside and a group of professional actors. Five or six pieces will be performed in a workshop production in Traverse 2, alongside a collaborative piece by the 15-17 year old members of the group called Slated: Writing from the Roof. For tickets, tel: 0131 228 1404.
* Scotland Street School Museum in Glasgow runs a festival of Celtic activities for children from January 17-March 1. This includes banners celebrating Celtic legends and designs from the Arts is Magic project, paintings from Uist schools on St Columba and Celtic spirituality, artwork on St Ninian from St Ninian’s Primary School, Knightswood, storytelling workshops and training sessions for teachers. Further information 0141 429 1202.
* Baldy Bane theatre company tours Scotland this term with a road safety message for fifth and sixth forms. Lethal Weapon is the title of their new production about the dangers of fast driving. Schools are sent a synopsis of the production for teachers to discuss with pupils who then devise four alternative outcomes. Actors improvise and discuss the different outcomes. The tour starts on February 2 in the Highlands and is scheduled to visit 20 authorities by mid-March. Interested schools should contact their local road safety officer.
* An unusual outing for under-fives, when Whirligig brings Babe, the Sheep-Pig, a play by David Wood, to the Edinburgh Festival Theatre in February (12-14). Described as a highly theatrical, yet faithful interpretation of Dick King-Smith’s novel - now perhaps best known as the film Babe - this will be the only venue for the play in Scotland. Further information Edinburgh Festival Theatre, tel: 0131 662 1112.
* Also for nursery schools, Borderline theatre company is now running a six-week series of workshops to stimulate children’s creative imagination through basic drama skills. Drama workers will be in seven nurseries in South Ayrshire, with topics on The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch, The Story of Mau-ui, Where the Wild Things Are and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Further information Borderline, tel: 01292 281010.
* Dundee Rep hosts its annual Festival of Dance on February 24-28. This year’s festival features Scottish Dance Theatre, Scotland’s principal contemporary dance company, at the start a nationwide tour with two new pieces choreographed by artistic director Janet Smith and New Zealander Carol Brown. Other companies will be the London-based Random Dance and Ottawan Le Group Dance Lab. Further information Dundee Rep, tel: 01382 227684.
* The MacRobert Arts Centre will also host Random’s The Millennarium, “a provocative investigation into reality versus virtual reality” on February 13. And on March 21-June 14 Leaves Among Thorns by IOU Theatre will turn the MacRobert studio into an enchanted forest and offer school workshops and a teachers’ pack. Further details from the MacRobert, tel: 01786 467155.
