The Wild Things are Here...

We have been excited about the Dumbstruck/No Loss Productions Christmas show  The Wild Things for a while now - we even had a sneak preview when the cast popped down to The Kiosk in Russell Park (which you can see here) and at last, the Wild Things really are here!  Well, they are at The Place Theatre on Bradgate Road anyway, with performances from now until Christmas Eve. The show is lovingly based on Maurice Sendak's classic picture book 'Where The Wild Things Are' and is the story of Max, a boy who likes to dress up in his wolf suit and "make mischief of one kind, or another".

When Max's mum sends him to his room without any supper, he finds himself transported to where the Wild Things are. The story is very simple, and the show builds on the clues in the book to imagine what goes on when Max visits the mysterious creatures. The scenery and design are all masterful creations by Bedford's very own illustrator David Litchfield who keeps the mood of the drawings similar to the originals, but gives them his own special style. The four Wild Things all emerge as beautifully written, individual characters over the course of the stage show, which in a festive nod to the pantomime season, also involves a little audience participation. 

In short, this is a wonderful and funny performance of a much-loved childrens' book which is a perfect Christmas outing for all little (and slightly less-little) Wild Things. To add to the magic, small packets of sweets from Arcadia Sweet Shop, as well as delicious Ice Cream from Spaghetti John's in Castle Quay can be purchased during the 20 minute interval. Interval entertainment is also available in the form of Wild Things activity sheets and crayons which are included with the programme. And magic is really what this show is all about. Max says at the end of his adventure, "I've been gone for ages and my dinner is still hot! Now that's what I call magic..."

Chapter 2: Russell and the mystery of the lost tennis ball

What's all the noise, Swans?” Russell shouted over the squealing and kerfuffle.

"We've lost our ball!” called one of the swans. It might have been Sydney, it might have been Sam. It was always very difficult to tell the swans apart.

Sophie Squirrel put down her yoga mat and rested her paws on her hips. “You definitely can't play tennis without a ball. Why don't you go and look for it? Perhaps we could all have a bit of peace then.”

“I'll go!” shouted Russell (as loud as hedgehogs can shout, which is actually not very loud. It's more like a loud-ish whisper).  Russell thought that it would probably take the swans ages to find the ball. They were not very good at getting underneath the sort of places a ball might roll, and sometimes they got their necks tangled up trying to look very quickly in all directions.

He had a poke about under a few bushes, but couldn't see it. He put his snuffly nose into the three nearest tree trunks, but there was no ball. As quickly as his little legs (very little legs, actually) could go, he scuttled under the big weeping willow tree and towards the Malmsbury Ginger Baker's Gingerbread House. Russell loved the gingerbread house, it smelled delicious. But after the last time (or the pink marshmallow sofa fiasco, as he like to call it), Russell remembered that he definitely must NOT nibble at the furniture. He stood up as high as he could on his back legs and pressed the Smartie doorbell.

'Ding dong' it rang, and Russell heard gingerbread footsteps running towards the door...

Chapter 1: The very first adventure of Russell the Hedgehog.

A little nose poked out from under some leaves and sniffed the autumn air. Russell the hedgehog was awake and his tummy was noisily telling him it was breakfast time. He set off across the park to see if The Kiosk was open.

As he passed the playground Mrs Fox was pushing the all 3 fox boys on the swings. She was taking it in turn to keep 3 cubs swinging as they squealed with delight.

“Morning Mrs Fox!” called Russell. “That looks like hard work!"

“Morning Russell! Only a few more minutes until Storytime at The Kiosk,” said Mrs Fox, “And I will be able to relax while the fox boys listen and sing.” (The fox boys singing was quite something. Russell thought that probably you could hear it from outer space, even with a space suit on.)

A bit further on, he saw the magpie twins, Violet and Claude.

“When do you think it will start?” they cackled, “Yes, when will it start?”

“Are you waiting for Storytime?” asked Russell

“No, tennis”, said Violet

“Yes, tennis!”, said Claude

“It’s still very early, I think,” said Russell.

“It will start soon!” said Violet

“We have the best spot,” said Claude

“Who is playing ?” asked Russell

“Swans,” said Claude.

Russell could see the swans, all dressed in white and limbering up for the match. The swans were very good at tennis, because their wings were so big they didn't need a raquet. The swans were very competitive though. Sometimes their tennis matches were called off because of too much pecking. They were squawking. Loudly. There was a lot of wing-flapping and the sound of large webbed feet smacking hard against the floor of the tennis court.  What on earth is going on wondered Russell, hurrying over to see what all the fuss was about.

Christmas Storytime

Storytime sessions at The Kiosk have been a lovely part of our development over the last six months.  We have had Grandpas, big sisters, actors, Mums and friends taking part reading and singing to our younger fans.  Whether they come for the stories, the milk and biscuits, the songs or the giant Cookies remains to be seen, but come they do, rain and shine!

We thought we'd celebrate Christmas at storytime by compiling a list of great Christmas books for children. Everyone has at least one that has to be dug out each year, and read on the magical night before Christmas. We'd love you to suggest any that you love and bring them along for us to read at Storytime. Here are some you may already know:

Mog's Christmas

It is very hard not to like Mog, the well-meaning but troublesome cat who makes Mr Thomas shout “bother that cat!” every few minutes. Judith Kerr's illustrations are a perfect accompaniment to this brilliant story about the mischief that Mog unintentionally causes over Christmas.

Lucy and Tom's Christmas

Shirley Hughes' story about the excitement of getting ready for Christmas, and her wonderful drawings are just magical. Although it was written almost 30 years ago, it is a timeless reminder about how fantastic Christmas can be. And it contains a lovely line about Tom getting very excited, and rather cross, and having to go out for a walk with Grandpa to calm down, which often seems rather pertinent during tired and over-excited Christmas Day afternoons with small children.

This is a new book for 2012, but destined to be a classic. Written by National Treasure Richard Curtis, it is the story of twins, one good and one, less good, and the consequences of some unexpected good behaviour:

“This really had been Charlie's naughtiest year yet. What with the eating-a-whole-box-of-chocolates incident. And the glue in the DVD episode. And the ice -down -the -back -of -the -teacher's -dress -moment. And the WORSE things.”

We await your suggestions eagerly - you can comment below on our blog, or on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/RussellParkKiosk, or tweet us @KioskAtThePark. Alternatively, just turn up to Storytime on Monday at 9.30 with a Christmas Book.  

Christmas songs to sing with children are always welcome too, we're warming up for a Very Musical Christmas!

Festive Fun in The Park

We love the festive season at the Kiosk, so we've put together an exciting schedule of celebrations to help keep you feeling Christmassy. Don't forget you can borrow a hot water bottle to keep you toasty whilst you enjoy your drinks and cakes - being warm definitely helps generate Christmas Spirit!  Oh, and thermals are not essential, but they certainly make a difference!

We will be kicking off our celebrations by supporting the brilliant Santa Run, a 5k sponsored run raising money for Keech Hospice Care which takes place at 11am on Sunday 9th December along the Embankment. If you are participating, and you pop along to the Kiosk (before or after your run!) in your Santa costume, we'll give you a free hot chocolate as a reward, we'll also donate 10% of the days takings to Keech. It's going to be a great day for participants and spectators alike!

Then at 9.30am on Monday 10th December, we'll have the first of our Christmas Storytime sessions with the statutory milk and biscuits for the kiddies and delicious gingerbread lattes for the grown ups.  In the afternoon, the little cherubs from Years 3 & 4 at Bedford Prep School will be heading down to the Kiosk to sing for us from 2-3pm.  There are going to be about forty of them serenading us - we can't wait!

On Saturday the 15th December, we'll be joined by the possibly slightly less cherubic (!) Eagle Choir (find out more about them here - www.eaglechoir.org.uk ) from 12 until about 12.30 pm. Buy a Mince pies & mulled wine for £2.50 to really get you in the mood.

On Monday the 17th December, Storytime will be hosted by the magical Kris from Frog's Chorus and then, continuing with Carols at The Kiosk, we host the marvellous Castle Lower Choir on Tuesday 18th, from 12.45 until 1.15pm.  Hopefully by this stage of events we will all be well and truly full of Christmas Spirit - and we're not just talking about the mulled wine! 

Speaking of Carols - if you come down in December with proof that your name is Carol - we'll give you one of our famous MarshmallowMountainHotChocolateExplosions on the house!!! 

And last but by no means least, we'd like to wish all of our wonderful customers a very Merry Christmas by inviting you to join us for some carol singing, mulled wine and mince pies on Christmas Eve from 4pm. Pick up one of our Christmas cards next time you are passing which includes information about all our events as well as a very special Christmas recipe for our legendary Malteser Squares! 

Happy Christmas!

Cooking up a Gluten-Free Storm

Last week, in the first of our 'meet the maker' series, we introduced Nikki, our gluten-free chef extraordinaire. Well, Nikki was nice enough to share a recipie with us, so that anyone who would like to try cooking gluten-free, nut-free cakes can have a go. You'd never know that Nikki's cakes are gluten-free. They are nothing like the dry, crumbly things you get in supermarkets, so these muffins are definitely worth a try. Nikki says that they are easy-peasy, so a good thing to start off with. And if it all goes wrong (let's face it, cooking distaters happen to the best of us, er, right?) you can always come and cheer up at the Kiosk with a hot water bottle and some of Nikki's Kiosk-based gluten free delights.

Nikki's Chocolate Orange Muffins

Basic Gluten-Free Muffins:

180g Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp glycerine
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
175g SR GF flour (I use Doves)
1 tsp Baking powder
½ tsp Xantham Gum
130 ml Sunflower Oil
130 mls Milk / Soya milk( If you want them gluten + Dairy free)

Beat sugar, eggs, glycerine and vanilla in bowl for couple of minutes.

Add flour mixture (flour, baking powder, Xantham Gum) and oil and milk until just mixed together (don’t overbeat.)

Divide into Cases (makes 9 tulip cases /12 normal muffin cases)
Bake at 180 C for 18-20 mins.

Add fruit or flavourings of choice. For chocolate muffins substitute 25g flour for cocoa.

Xantham gum and Doves GF flour are both stocked in Waitrose or Tescos. Just in case you don't have any lurking at the back of your cupboard.