cultureFEBRUARY10
22
The advent of the
years first half-
term break has
prompted a
Culture mag
search for ways to
spend it. Sam
Wonfor shares the
best of whats
been found.
I
f you're anything like me � and
I'm betting that there are a few of
you out there � you won't be
surprisedwhenIadmitthatinour
house, if you look very hard, there's
still the odd rogue Christmas bauble
to be found hanging around.
And so it came as quite a shock
when our monthly Culture editorial
meeting included "half-term" as a
subject for discussion.
Another holiday? Already? Surely
not. The excesses of Christmas and
its associated family-diary challenges
are still more than fresh in my mind.
Nevertheless, it is a fact that the
first school holiday of 2010 will be
upon on us in February. Eeek.
However, we think you'll agree that
in these often hectic times, making
the most of the time we spend with
our nearest and dearest is a must.
So, with this in mind, we're cam-
paigning for the half-term break (or
any other kind for that matter) to be
seen not as a spanner in the
everyday routine works but more
as a prime opportunity for
wringing out every last bit of fun
and � dare we say � "quality time"
possible.
We realise this may take a bit of
imagination and more than a
smidgen of optimism, so we're doing
our bit via the following wadge of
pages devoted to providing ideas for
things to do and places to go once
the holidays kick off.
Now, all you need to do is con-
tribute your two-penneth by taking
the ideas on board and taking up the
challenge before running with it as
fast as your legs can carry you.
The way we see it, the holidays are
happening whether they're conveni-
ent or not �you might as well have a
stab at enjoying them especially
when there's so much to choose
from.
Calendars, red pens and electronic
organisers at the ready...
Keep kids
occupied
An Utterly Fabulous Half Term at Seven
Stories, The Centre for Children's Books,
February 13-21, Lime Street, Newcastle,
0845 271 0777 or www.sevenstories.org.uk
Dive in to the utterly fabulous and extremely
wonderful world of Clarice Bean, Charlie and
Lola and many more during a whole week of
fun at Seven Stories.
In celebration of the launch of
an exciting new exhibition
which focuses on the
work of award-
winning children's
author and illustrator
Lauren Child, young
visitors can enjoy the daily
story-times featuring a
string of much-loved
characters from her books
and the subsequent TV spin-offs.
There are also collage-making
workshops to learn Lauren's illustration
techniques as well as animation workshops
which will allow young budding animators the
chance to create their own Charlie and Lola-
style film clips.
In addition, the Creation Station will be open
all week for as much crafty/sticky fun as
youngsters can handle.
And is that wasn't enough have your Lauren
Child books at the ready because on Monday,
February 15, the author herself will be doing a
book signing from 2-4pm.
For full listings and timings, visit the website
or call Seven Stories.
BBC Walking with Dinosaurs, Woodhorn
Colliery Museum, Ashington, 01670 528080
or www.experiencewoodhorn.com
We've had the arena show, now comes the
exhibition which promises to show us how the
phenomenon of Walking With Dinosaurs was
produced.
Dinosaurs last roamed the planet 65 million
years ago, until the BBC's award-winning TV
series brought these remarkable creatures
`back to life'.
This exhibition at Woodhorn explores
the science and technology behind the
series.
It will also reveal more about
dinosaurs and their world, and will
enable visitors to `walk with dinosaurs'
through blue screen technology.
Real fossils, casts and replica dinosaurs
and dinosaur heads will all be there to be
seen too.
Any youngster who counts his or herself a fan
of `the pre-historic 'saurs should not miss this.
The Little Big Club, The Journal Tyne
Theatre, 0844 493 9999 or
www.thejournaltynetheatre.co.uk
Billed as a fantastic new 70-minute theatrical
and musical extravaganza, The Little Big Club
Live brings together an ensemble of the world's
most popular pre-school characters in one
exciting adventure.
For the first time, Bob The Builder, Barney &
Friends, Angelina Ballerina, Fireman Sam, Fifi
Forget-me-not and Pingu will feature on stage
together.

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