More than 200,000 low income households have received grants to help them through difficult times, thanks to the Scottish Welfare Fund. New figures show that since the scheme was set up in April 2013, £97.9 million worth of grants have been given to nearly 204,000 households in Scotland. Continue reading Thousands of struggling Scots aided by crisis fund
Tag: Children and Families
World Premiere: Mermalade
Manhattan Children’s Theatre presents
MERMALADE
World premiere
Based on the children’s book by Clare Cockburn-Martin
Illustrated by Anna Welsh
Directed and adapted for the stage by Laura Stevens
A Little Mermaid she is not.
A fast paced, interactive comedy. A universal quest. A play for all ages
Left with a cryptic note, a pearl, and three annoying oysters for company, MERMALADE is determined to make sense of it all. She’s brave enough to approach the biggest forces in the universe. She’s strong enough to confront those that get in her way. But is she wise enough to find her answer?
Add three life size Oysters as narrators, cameos from the Moon, Sun, Stars, Thor (God of Thunder), a beach setting, a splattering of pop music and one strong-willed 11-year-old girl that never quits and what do you get?
Unlike traditional fairy tales, MERMALADE’s story holds no moral decree. In the Socratic Spirit, the show offers more questions than answers with WHY? being at the top of the list.
Why does everyone tell me what to do and feel?
Why is a pearl so special?
Why do I have to keep asking “WHY?”
“If you’re tired of Once upon a time same old, same old, you should visit Manhattan Children’s Theatre for The Last of the Dragons.” – New York Times
“The idea of a damsel in distress being rescued by a handsome man has been around for so long, we hardly notice it’s there. Which is exactly why it’s so damaging as a stereotype. So hurrah for Manhattan Children’s Theatre for joining a burgeoning list of storytellers re-dressing the balance.”
wow24/7 **** review of The Last of the Dragons
“This is a tale of bravery, intelligence and unexpected NEW traditions. Beautifully set for the stage and directed by Laura Stevens (…) with an all-Edinburgh cast, this show will delight young and old.”
Families Edinburgh on The Last of the Dragons
Manhattan Children’s Theatre offers complimentary tickets for local youth groups for the preview dates of MERMALADE (3-4 August). Also, on non-performance days the show will be visiting local Edinburgh schools.
Laura Stevens, who recently moved to Edinburgh from her native New York, co-founded Manhattan Children’s Theatre in 2002 and directed over 30 plays since, including theatrical productions for very young audiences (Little Tales, based on folk tales from around the world). Between 2002 and 2011, MCT welcomed over 250,000 audience members through its doors. Laura’s production of The Last of the Dragons debuted at Fringe in 2015 to rave reviews and toured to Biggar in Scotland and Warsaw in Poland to sold-out audiences.
Now Scotland-based, the mission of Manhattan Children’s Theatre is one of providing affordable, high quality theatre entertainment to audiences in Scotland, children in particular.
Mermalade
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Continue reading Childcare costs: Rowntree Foundation calls for radical overhaul
Early years flexibility ‘crucial’, says Minister
Minister for Childcare and Early Years Mark McDonald visited Crookston Early Years Centre today to highlight progress made by local authorities in offering new patterns of early learning and more flexibility in childcare. Continue reading Early years flexibility ‘crucial’, says Minister
Legislation to eradicate child poverty is on the way
Scotland is set to bring forward legislation to tackle the deep-rooted causes of child poverty for the first time in its history, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced today. Continue reading Legislation to eradicate child poverty is on the way
Fun in the sun in Inverleith
Looking for something to do during the holidays? The Inverleith Coordinated Summer Programme of activities for children and young people runs until Monday 15 August.
Awesome Authors coming to Edinburgh
CBBC’s Awesome Authors is coming to the capital this weekend, giving Edinburgh’s children the chance to take part in this fun and exciting national event. Continue reading Awesome Authors coming to Edinburgh









