30 | April 25, 2013 | www.cambridge-news.co.uk | Cambridge News
What’s On Family Five things
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Family theatre
to do with the family
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1. Paint a HUGE canvas ONE huge canvas, an army of multicoloured acrylic paints and a whole lot of imagination, what could go wrong? If your kids are arty and like to get their hands dirty, Think Big Paint Big at The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge is a chance for them to be inspired by the Fitz’s collections and splatter their thoughts and ideas all over the place – well, within reason. To be honest, popping them in a set of overalls might make sense. Suitable for over 12s, it’s on Saturday from 10.30am until 12.30pm. It’s free but you have to book. Call (01223) 332904 or email fitzmuseumeducation@lists.cam.ac.uk.
2. ... or a normal-sized one FANCY discovering your inner Picasso? Try getting creative at a Kettle’s Yard Studio Sunday session this weekend. The idea is to act like a magpie and explore the gallery for inspiration, then pour your ideas into crafts and sketches. All ages are welcome and they’ve also started using a fab new PropsBox initiative, packed with interactive games and quizzes relating to the exhibitions. It’s on Sunday from 1pm until 4pm and is free (even better, there are snacks included!), but don’t forget to book on (01223) 748100.
3. Rescue animals for a day BUDDING vets and animal lovers can try their hand at being a rescue worker for the day at Wood Green Animal Shelter in Godmanchester. Learn how to feed, clean and care for the centre’s fluffy, fidgety and fun-loving creatures under the guidance of an expert. The session is on Saturday from 10am until 3pm. It’s a tad pricey at £65 per person, but is aimed at 15-17-year-olds who are really keen to go into animal welfare in the future. Contact the hands on team on 08442488181 for more details.
4. Hear a story BUMPTY Bear is clumsy, smiley and always snuffling out an adventure. You can hear all about him at a new storytelling group at the Imperial War Museum Duxford. Apparently Bumpty likes rambling around The Quays and wouldn’t get too far without a lot of help from his friends and a handy first aid kit. The whole family can catch him on Saturday from 10.30am under the Harrier Jump Jet – and it’s free. Call 01618364000 for more details.
5. Make a giant flower IN honour of the fact spring has finally (!) turned up, the Grafton Gorilla is hosting a springtime special for the Centre’s monthly Children’s Club. Go along on Sunday to get to grips with making a giant tissue paper flower and a few new friends. There’ll be free seed sticks to take home and plant too. It’s on Sunday between 11am and 4pm, and is free but you have to be a member of the club. Find out more at www.graftoncentre. co.uk/childrens_club.
Doctor Brown Brown Brown Brown Brown and his Singing Tiger D
OCTOR Brown is very difficult to get hold of. In fact, I feel I know his answerphone message (a sing song ramble that doesn’t have any actual words in it and definitely no “leave your number and I’ll get back to you” comment), really quite well. But this fits his whole persona, Doctor Brown – aka Phil Burgers from LA – is notoriously “tricky to pin down”, and that’s his publicist talking. It explains why, when you try and find out anything about him, all you can really discover is that he’s a comedian with a serious penchant for audience interaction. Despite winning the Edinburgh Comedy Prize (previously the Perrier award) last year for his adult stand up show Befrdfgth (following in the footsteps of Steve Coogan
and Stephen Fry), you probably haven’t even heard of him. This is largely due to the fact he and his rather impressive beard, tend to steer clear of comedy TV quiz shows and all barely amusing BBC3 sitcoms. “I’m not doing this for achievement purposes,” he tells me, when I do finally get hold of him (numerous nudges in the ribs by his publicist later). “It’s fun.” Aside from his adult show, he does kid’s shows too, which are practically identical to his adult shows, except much more PC – audience members of his adult shows, beware, he’s all for dragging you up on stage for a bit of clowning around/humiliation. Doctor Brown is bringing both shows to Cambridge Junction this weekend, but other than the
ᔡ Dr. Brown Brown Brown Brown Brown and His Singing Tiger, Cambridge Junction, Saturday, 11.30am and 2.30pm. Tickets £9 (£5 child) from (01223) 511 511 / www.junction.co.uk
fact a tiger narrates and sings in the kid’s production (played by Stuart Bowden, one of the stars of last year’s Junction Christmas show, The DIY Nativity with Bryony Kimmings), I really can’t tell you much more about it, sorry. “What is it all about?” he muses. “Umm, it’s about a guy who tries to get things right, by going about his day, but he can’t get anything right.” Can you narrow it down: what are the songs like? Is it theatre? “It’s just a lot of playing around, being silly, fooling around,”
he says mysteriously. And why should people go along? “I don’t know… Why should anyone go seeing anything? You know? “If people just want to take a risk and see something silly, and fun and playful and alive, then come see it, and if they want to be surprised. But I can’t really fit it into a box and say, well this happens first and this happens and it’s a show about this. It’s kind of its own little beast.” He adds: “If you wanna have a good time and laugh and be silly, cool. But if you want meaning and deep understanding, and to be taken on a serious journey into the human soul and all that type of stuff, this is probably not the type of show for you.” So please, go along, soak it all up and tell us what it’s like, we’re rather intrigued. Ella Walker