the gruffalo - live at dunstan playhouse

A musical adaptation of the award-winning picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, The Gruffalo, is being staged at Dunstan Playhouse this week.

Suitable for children aged 3 and up, the stage show is running from 12-17 April. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $20 for children, and can be purchased through BASS. See here for a video preview of the show.

Image via modernhood

see "grug live" by windmill

The much-loved picture book character "Grug" is being brought to life by children's theatre company Windmill. Commencing on Wednesday this week, the live show is being staged at The Forge, Maryatville High School and runs until 24 April. The show is suitable for children aged 1-5 (and parents, of course!).

Ticket prices are $19 each (babies under 1 enter for free) or $14 each for group bookings of 6 or more. See the website for show times and to purchase tickets.

Image from Windmill

pirates! skullduggery at the maritime museum

This week signals the final week of the Pirates! Skullduggery at the Maritime Museum exhibition at the South Australian Maritime Museum, located at Port Adelaide.

If you didn't visit over the school holidays, this is your last chance. The exhibition is hands on, so for once you don't have to worry so much about constantly saying "no touching" whilst in a museum! Entry is $8.50 for adults and $3.50 for children (there is also a family rate).

fringe festival 2010 - family events

It's almost that time of the year again - the Adelaide Fringe Festival hits town on 19 February, and this year there are 37 "Family" events in the program. If you missed the release of the Fringe guide in last week's Advertiser, never fear, click here for a rundown of the "Family" events, which appear to cater for a variety of tastes and ages.

free theatre show by windmill - the whale's tale

Windmill, the Adelaide-based theatre company that caters for children and families, is presenting a free outdoor family show these school holidays.

The Whale's Tale is being staged in Murray Bridge, Adelaide and Victor Harbor. See here for dates and times. Suitable for children aged 3-12, this is an unseated event and no bookings are required, so get yourself some picnic rugs and enjoy the show!

For the full 2010 Windmill season, see here.

"Wildlife of Gondwana" exhibit at Marion

Image by Peter Trusler, via SA Museum

The SA Museum's "Wildlife of Gwondana" exhibit is visiting Westfield Marion these school holidays, with the following features:

Dinosaur Exhibit - Thursday 7 January, 10am-2pm in the Event Cinemas Foyer

• fossil display and touch table
• fossil rubbing
• skeletal material
• hands on fun making dinosaur masks
• singing performance
• Gondwana gardens plant talk

Dino Hunt - Monday 4 - Sunday 17 January, throughout Westfield Marion

• take the 'dino hunt' activity trail through the Centre, follow the footsteps and spot the dinosaurs hiding out at Westfield Marion.

START at the Gallery

Need to get out of the house after all the Christmas revelry, but don't want to battle the crowds viewing Wang Wang and Funi? Why not take the children along to the Art Gallery of South Australia and experience the START at the Gallery program. Held on the first Sunday of every month, and suitable for children aged 5-10, the free START program includes tours, art and craft sessions, family trails, live music and entertainment. See here for this Sunday's (3 January) program.

Families will also be able to view the John Brack exhibition or the Bravura exhibition for the special entry price of $10 (2 adults and children) this Sunday.

christmas pageants

Yes, it's that time of year already (where did 2009 go?), and in South Australia we are fortunate to have a number of Christmas pageants to take the children to.
It's only one sleep until the Credit Union Christmas Pageant in Adelaide - I doubt any of us expected the scorching heat that is forecast for tomorrow (39 degrees Celcius), but for those of you who will still be brave enough to attend, click here for details of the route, hot weather tips, and start and end times. I have such fond memories of attending the pageant as a child - all of us cousins used to pile onto the back of my grandfather's flat-bed truck which my uncle would have parked in a prime position earlier that morning. I'm now looking forward to creating similar memories for my children!

South Australia is fortunate enough to have a number of other pageants on offer - here is a list of some other pageants on offer this year:

• Murray Bridge Christmas Pageant & Fireworks display - 21 November
• Glenelg Pageant - 22 November
• Norwood Christmas Pageant - 28 November
• Port Pirie Christmas Pageant - 5 December
• Meningie Christmas Pageant - 6 December
• Port Broughton & District Community Christmas Pageant - 12 December
• Tailem Bend Christmas Parade - 18 December

This list is not exhaustive, and I'd love to hear from you should you be aware of any other pageants on offer in South Australia this year.
The Adelaide Christmas Pageant also marks the opening of the Magic Cave in David Jones - I didn't take my little one last year until the week before Christmas ... big mistake! We lined up as soon as DJs opened, but still had to wait in line for 2 hours. I must admit that I still prefer the old John Martin's Magic Cave, but perhaps that's because my memories of it are through the eyes of a child. My tip - if you really want to experience the Magic Cave, try and get there earlier than the week before Christmas when the last minute rush begins. Try and take hubby (I called mine to duck out of work and meet us there) or a grandparent as support, as inevitably your child will need a toilet-stop/nappy change/run around whilst waiting to see Santa, and having someone to hold your place in line (or, better still, do the running around with child!) will make the visit all the less stressful.

Also remember that a lot of local shopping centres have a Santa in attendance for photos - this can often be a less stressful option than the Magic Cave or other department store Santas.

Let the countdown to Christmas begin!

image from www.planbooktravel.com.au/