Kidding Around … with Jimmy Giggle

Hoot, Hoot!

If you have a pre-schooler, then chances are you see Jimmy Giggle and his friends Hoot and Hootabelle every. single. day!

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Jimmy Giggle and Hoot the Owl

We spoke with Jimmy recently about his exciting new album, Jimmy Giggle’s Christmas Party (which was released on November 6 and we LOVE it!), his live shows in Melbourne and Sydney in December and his first Christmas with 8 month old son, Lenny.

We also have tickets to his show in Melbourne on Tuesday Dec 22 to GIVEAWAY!

Thank you so much for chatting with Kidding Around Australia, Jimmy Giggle!

Can you tell us a bit about Jimmy Giggle’s Christmas Party album and tour? We thought we would put a Jimmy Giggle spin on traditional Christmas songs and album and we thought we would inject the Giggle spirit into Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer and sing some duets with other celebrities I have met over the years. Off the bat of that we thought we’d bring it to life and we are so excited that Ali McGregor said she’d come along as well as Hoot and Hootabelle and Santa and his elves. It’s going to be a lot of fun!

You’re a new Dad, congratulations! How is Lenny? Lenny is going on 8 months old. He’s really cool. It’s a rollercoaster ride, but it’s the best ticket I have ever bought. He is learning something new every week, he’s not crawling yet so our Christmas tree is safe for this year!

What is Christmas going to look like at your house this year? We will be home, we want to chill out and relax. I have been working a lot this year and we are looking forward to being home with little Lenny. I have already bought him a lot of presents and I am sure Santa will bring him heaps of presents too!

Do you travel very often with Lenny? I haven’t travelled with him yet, but he is going to come up to Sydney for 6 days when we do the shows up there so we will see how we go! Hopefully it goes well!!

What are your favourite destinations in Australia? Do you have anything on your wish list? I haven’t explored for leisure, I’ve travelled a lot for work. I like the experiences that come out of the blue. Recently, I was in Darwin and went and saw a crocodile show. It was fantastic. I love the beaches and exploring the nuances of a town. I am excited to share everything Australia has to offer with Lenny!

Do you have any special causes that you support (we like to support charitable organisations with our Random Acts of Kid-ness)? I am the ambassador for Barnardos Australia and I am a passionate advocate for people with celebral palsy and those on the autism spectrum.

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Super Reporter Alegría also had some questions for Jimmy Giggle!

What is your favourtist talent? Moving my eyebrows independently. All those years of practicing in Primary School paid off!

How do you do your magic? A good magician never reveals his tricks.. it’s the magic of television!

How do you play piano so well? Practice makes perfect and if you look like you are having a good time you can do anything!

How do you get dressed so well? Firstly, thank you for noticing my cool outfit. It’s amazing you can get dressed really well when someone (the lady at the ABC) dresses you!

Why does the magic button always break? It hasn’t been through the proper testing. I am always mucking around with it, but it always gets there in the end!

Why does Hoot really like the night watch? He gets a break from my high pitch Jimmy Giggle voice and he gets to go around and say goodnight to everyone. It’s his little job and he really likes it!

How does he catch the clouds when he wants to ride on them? I don’t know! It’s weird because if I want to catch a cloud my arm would go straight through it! I don’t know!

Can you please get me a wand like Hootabelle’s so I can twinklify the sky too? I’m going to handball that one onto Santa … I think it’s one of kind. You will have to wrestle it off Hootabelle!

Thank you for talking to us Jimmy Giggle! It was fun talking to you!

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As promised, we have a family pass (four tickets) Jimmy Giggle’s Christmas Party in Melbourne on Tuesday Dec 22 at 1:30pm.

If you would like to win, make sure you LIKE Kidding Around Australia and Jimmy Rees on Facebook and fill out the form!

ENTRIES CLOSE 4PM MONDAY DECEMBER 14!

Terms and Conditions:

Open to residents of Victoria, Australia only.  By entering this competition, you agree to subscribe to the Kidding Around Australia mailing list, if you are not already subscribed. Your privacy is protected and you can unsubscribe at any time. 

By entering this competition, you are also agreeing to all other terms and conditions.

This is a game of skill not a game of chance. Entries not filling in all the required fields and answering the question will be deemed invalid. The winner will be chosen by originality and creative merit, by a non involved party. The Judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

The winner will be drawn 14/12/15 4.30pm AEST and announced on this website. The winner will also be contacted via email.

There is one (1) prize consisting of four (4) tickets to Jimmy Giggle’s Christmas Party on Tuesday December 22, 2015, 1.30pm performance.

One entry per household. Prizes are not transferable, changeable or redeemable for cash. Kidding Around Australia will not be held responsible for any loss, injury or damage that occurs in connection with the prize or the winners participation in the promotion.

MORE INFORMATION

Jimmy Giggle’s Christmas Party tour dates:

THE CONCOURSE, CHATSWOOD  SATURDAY DECEMBER 19

ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY   SUNDAY DECEMBER 20

ARTS CENTRE, MELBOURNE  MONDAY 21, TUESDAY 22 & WEDNESDAY 23 DECEMBER

For complete tour and ticket information, visit:  www.abc.net.au/abcevents & www.livenation.com.au

Jimmy Giggle’s Christmas Party album is available at ABC Stores!

 

Kidding Around … with Medela

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We met Medela at the Kids Business Bloggers Brunch and were blown away by, not only their fantastic products for new mums, but also their work with charities and overseas projects.

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As you know, we are very involved in humanitarian ventures and like to do our bit on this website via our Random Acts of Kid-ness. We wanted to share the work they are involved in – you never know there may be a cause that they support that you might feel called to support as well! (We have a little competition at the end of this post that might help you do this!)

Medela have been reaching out to the community, connecting with organisations that fit with their passion of helping others and have a purpose that fits with our values. Medela sponsor Life’s Little Treasures Foundation, which was founded by Shusannah Morris, who are dedicated to supporting families of sick and premature babies.

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Shusannah Morris speaking at the Bloggers Brunch.

If you follow our Facebook and Instagram feeds, you will know that we have a nephew and twin nieces who were born prematurely. Our nephew was born at 30 weeks and his mum said that 12 years ago there was nothing like Life’s Little Treasures to help them navigate the scary world of NICU. They really do make a difference to the families of the seventy six babies born too soon each day in Australia #76borntoosoon.

 

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Medela has been teaming up with The Nappy Collective for the past two years. The Nappy Collective is an organisation that collects disposable unused nappies at drop off points around Australia. These nappies are then donated to womens refuges and to centres for families in crisis to assist mum’s to provide nappies for their kids.  They run two collections a year and Medela has enjoyed being able to provide support to this organisation through a Medela drop off Point and using social media to promote and raise awareness for this great cause.

So, don’t throw your nappies out when your baby outgrows them – donate them!

Medela have also been involved in many donations to great causes this year with donations to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre for disposable bra pads that were in high demand, arrangements to donate product samples to the Dandelion Support Network to help families in crisis and donations to Dads Group Incorporated who provide support and networking for new dads.

Medela feel very proud of their involvement in the Bangladesh Project, and rightly so.

Scope Global and The International Centre for Diarrheal Research, Bangledesh, in response to the increasing numbers of infant mortalities and morbidities in Bangledesh, have launched an intuitive to enable mothers to give breast milk for longer. This high morbidity and mortality rate is due, in large, to poor sanitation.

With thanks to Medela, Australian volunteer – Alysha Harkins, is providing education and support for mothers, families and the employers to establish and facilitate ongoing expression of breast milk in the work environment.

Alysha was provided with intensive education on breastfeeding, breast milk expression and technical training on hand expression, using the breast pumps and cup feeding prior to her departure and will continue to provide ongoing support during the 12 month project.

Medela Australia donated 20 Lactina pumps and 200 Lactaset hand pump kits.

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Alysha is working with Bangladeshi mothers from a garment factory industry who often, due to the limited maternity leave, have to return to work once their baby is 2 months old. The mothers range from 15 – 35 years of age and they will typically have to work a 10-14 hour day, 5-6 days per week, which has proved extremely difficult to continue breastfeeding in the past. Can you imagine?

Along with high temperatures and humidity, there is poor electricity supply to homes and workplaces and a severe lack of refrigeration. The University of Toronto have donated a pasteurisation device to enable the expressed breast milk to be pasteurised and to be stored for longer periods in the Bangladesh climate.

We can’t wait to follow Alysha’s journey – I just know she is making a difference to the lives of many children and their families.

How can you get involved? Medela have given us a $50 voucher for The Pharmacy to give away to one of our readers! If you win you could buy something special for yourself or maybe you could make a purchase and donate it to someone in need this Christmas?

EDITED: CONGRATULATIONS TO JODIE P. – WE HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR PRIZE!

To enter, email info@kiddingaroundaustralia.com with THE PHARMACY in the subject line and tell us what you would buy with a $50 voucher by 5pm on December 13, 2015. Sorry, only Australian residents only. A winner will be drawn and announced shortly after the competition closes. Good Luck!

I hope you enjoyed learning about these different organisations as much as we did – it is great to know that businesses such as Medela are helping these wonderful organisations make a difference.

“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” ― Dalai Lama XIV (1)

Kidding Around … Santa’s Magical Kingdom, 2015

We were thrilled to be invited to the opening night of Santa’s Magical Kingdom in Melbourne!

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For us, it was a big drive to Caulfield which elicited a variety of different responses from each member of the family and I was wonder whether or not it would “jingle our bells”!! About 1.5 hours into the drive (to make matters worse we got stuck in peak hour traffic) Isaac declared it was time to go “home”, I was eyeing off a hotel and wanted to just pull in there and go to sleep, Tim wanted to smack his own head against the steering wheel and when Alegría paused between her 1000th and 1001st question of the journey our little girl (who only had her eyes on the prize) said “I WANT TO GO TO SANTA’S MAGICAL KINGDOM!”
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There is so much to see and do in each three-hour session, so there was never a lull in the entertainment. With the limited number of tickets sold in each session it meant that the flow of people was effortless, minimal to no lines for each ride with plenty of space to move around in.

Inside the undercover dome, most activities were free. There are 6 amusement rides, the McCormick gingerbread man decorating area, Aeroplane Jelly craft area where the kids coloured in a Christmas bauble, letter writing with Mrs. Claus, a spectacular walk through snowland where the Snow Princess and Snow Maiden from Hans Christian Anderson are happy to pose for photographs.

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Of course, you can visit Santa in his special room (there is actually 4 Santa’s) and photo packages range in price from $25 upwards. You don’t have to get a photo though, you can visit him and he will give the kids a present – for free! Families can request to see the same Santa for continuity! The Santa we saw was fantastic although Alegría wanted to know what was in the other rooms ….
For a small fee ($5) you could play the carnival game or buy a gift from the merchandise stand.
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Outside, was the HUGE euro slide, an older kid swinging ride and a partially enclosed ferris wheel.
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If this wasn’t enough to fill your 3 hours, then a Christmas themed circus show (which is also included in the entry price) will have you entertained (or if you only want to watch a bit of it, all of the rides are still operational in this time!).
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Georgina Says
  • Bring your real camera – the lighting is dim (so the lights twinkle) so the camera on your phone will struggle and there are plenty of photo opportunities!
  • Either bring your snacks with you or schedule your booking around eating times! There is a restaurant just outside Gate 23 (you will enter at Gate 22) so you could go there before or after your session. There is food available but it’s chips / popcorn / hotdogs etc.
  • There are ATM’s onsite but they have service fees so bring a small amount of cash with you.
  • If you chose to book the 6-9pm timeslot consider traffic and bedtimes! You want to enjoy it and not be stressed before you arrive!

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We have been asked if it was worth the entry price (between $35-$40 per tickets for everyone over 2 years old) and whilst that’s hard to define, since our visit Alegría has asked to go back to Santa’s Magical Kingdom probably every second day! She clearly had a great time and Isaac enjoyed it, so for us it would be worth it as a special Christmas treat and is something you could budget for throughout the year.

MORE INFORMATION

Website: http://www.santasmagicalkingdom.com.au/

We were given tickets to Santa’s Magical Kingdom for the purpose of this review. As always, our opinion is honest and unbiased.

Please note all details quoted are correct at the time of publishing. All details are subject to change without notice and Kidding Around Australia takes no responsibility for information contained in this post. Please check the appropriate website to ensure that information is still correct and current.

ALL PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES ON THE KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA WEBSITE ARE THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF THE KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA AUTHORS. ALL IMAGES ARE SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT AND CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA.

 

Kidding Around … Justine Clarke’s Pyjama Jam Tour

It’s no secret that we love Justine Clarke around here! We have been to quite a few of her live shows and see her almost daily on Playschool!

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Justine Clarke – Photo: Supplied

 

When we were invited to her latest show, Pyjama Jam! and found out that we could wear our PJ’s and take our teddy bears, well, the excitement reached fever pitch!

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There are few things more exciting than getting to wear your pyjamas outside of the house … and we got to go into the city!

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Sometimes, you need your Dad to lift you up so you can see the paddle boarders on the Yarra River!

So with “Buddy and Elephant” and “Raffie and Mickey” in tow, we set off on our own little day out!

The Playhouse at the Arts Centre, Melbourne is the perfect venue for a pyjama party and the stage looked comfy and relaxing. In fact, with the little sleep this Mumma has had over the past 5 years I could have easily rested my eyes for a few minutes!

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Justine’s concerts never disappoint. She is funny and entertaining and the kids LOVE her. She had everyone dancing to all our favourites, such as WatermelonDinosaur Roar and Dancing Pants and intertwined them with new material. With titles like Pyjamas and Shufflin’ Off To Bed and our new favourites Awake! and Bobby the Tractor, Justine’s fifth studio album is sure to be a hit!

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If you get a chance you must go and see Justine Clarke! For tour and ticket information visit justineclarke.com.au

We were given tickets to Justine’s show for the purpose of this review. As always, our opinion is honest and unbiased.

Please note all details quoted are correct at the time of publishing. All details are subject to change without notice and Kidding Around Australia takes no responsibility for information contained in this post. Please check the appropriate website to ensure that information is still correct and current.

ALL PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES ON THE KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA WEBSITE ARE THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF THE KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA AUTHORS. ALL IMAGES ARE SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT AND CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA.

Winners Announced … Santa’s Magical Kingdom and CATS the Musical

We have had such fun reading your entries for our Santa’s Magical Kingdom and CATS the Musical competitions!

We know you are anxious to know who the winners are so …

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and congratulations also to …

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Congratulations to all our winners – watch out for an email from us soon!

If you would like to purchase tickets to either of these awesome events then here is the nitty gritty:

MORE INFORMATION ON CATS

Website www.catsthemusical.com/australia

Facebook Facebook.com/CatstheMusical

MORE INFORMATION ON SANTA’S MAGICAL KINGDOM

Website www.santasmagicalkingdom.com.au

Facebook Santa’s Magical Kingdom – Melbourne and Santa’s Magical Kingdom – Sydney

Random Acts of Kid-ness … Wheel of Brisbane

We were so happy to hear about a Home Schooling group in Queensland who enjoy reading our posts! They are always looking for fun and educational things to try so we put our thinking caps on and came up with a Random Acts of Kid-ness that ticks all the boxes.

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We have a great relationship with The Wheel of Brisbane and they have generously given us two Wheel of Brisbane Ambassador Exclusive Cabin Passes for the Home Schooling kids! Not only can the kids have a great time, they can also study engineering, geography and meteorology!

I spoke with one of the parents, Katrina, who said that they all met through Homeschool Facebook Groups, as there are a huge number of groups on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane. The children still study all the same areas of the National Curriculum however they can also do external classes such as Art, Drama, Photography, Robotics/ Electronics, and Aboriginal culture from Gold Coast elders in sessions about their Art, culture and land.  There are a variety of reasons parents choose to home school their children. Some have been verbally and physically bullied at school, others have special needs and do not receive the help that they need to fit into and cope in a regular classroom setting, some children do not have special needs but may have some learning difficulties and other children have never been to a traditional school because the parents believe they can provide a better learning environment at home. From my perspective, home schooling my son has made him happier, more confident and independent. He’s thriving.”

The Wheel of Brisbane is recognised as one of the most exciting additions to the Brisbane City Skyline. With breathtaking views across the iconic Brisbane River, this must see attraction provides something for everyone, young or old, tourist or local and is a “must do” for anyone in Brisbane. All gondolas are fully enclosed and air-conditioned and seat up to 6 adults and 2 children in safety and comfort, except for the VIP gondola which seats up to 4 adults.

The Wheel of Brisbane is located in the Parklands at South Bank in the heart of Brisbane’s cultural, lifestyle and entertainment district. Cultural Forecourt, The Parklands, South Bank, Brisbane.

We can’t wait to hear about your experience kids – have a fantastic time!

MORE INFORMATION

Website: www.thewheelofbrisbane.com.au

Phone: 07 3844 3464


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NOMINATE FOR OUR NEXT RANDOM ACTS OF KID-NESS NOW

If you would like to nominate yourself, or someone you know, for a Random Acts of Kid-ness please fill out the form located HERE.

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Kidding Around … Myer Giftorium

Alegría and I were excited to go on a Mummy and Daughter date to the launch of Myer’s Giftorium – which is a wonderful place that has Christmas all wrapped up!

Myer Giftorium 2015

Upon arrival we were given a personalised gift bag – which, much like a kid on Christmas morning, we ripped right in to! In our gift bag we discovered toys, a custom Peanuts licensed print, a monogrammed mug, The Spirit of Christmas CD, Dilmah Tea, a leather pen, Roller Lash, gift vouchers and a personalised jar of Nutella. So. Much. Fun!

Myer giftorium

 

We were welcomed to the launch by Myer Ambassador Kris Smith who is a self-confessed “Selfie King”. I was happy to take him up on his offer – Alegría, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with him! I apologised and told him not to take it personally … to which he replied “Don’t worry, I have that affect on women”. Yeah, sure you do Kris!

Kris Smith at Myer Giftorium 2015

Exploring the entire 6th floor of Myer Melbourne is a Christmas shoppers dream! There are gifts for everyone catering for every budget, from stocking fillers to music systems and if you don’t know where to start you can book an appointment with Myer’s trained “Gifticians” who will steer you in the right direction!

Myer Giftorium 2015

Personalised gifts are definitely all the rage this festive season with everything from embossed leather goods, to embroidered Santa sacks and stockings, custom Mr Men, Little Miss and Peanuts licensed prints and the hugely popular Nutella jars.

Star Wars is set to be a popular gift choice this year – Alegría and I participated in a Jedi training at the launch, which I am sure will be a hit with the kids whilst Mum and Dad decide on gifts! We bought Isaac a Mr. Potato Head Star Wars toy as a consolation for not coming with us! Star Wars along with Build A Bear Workshops are setting up in-store pop-up shops in every Myer store.

Myer Giftorium 2015

On November 10, Jennifer Hawkins will unveil the 60th season of the Christmas windows display at Myer’s flagship Bourke St store and Santa will take up residence in Santaland. Children can meet him, have a photograph taken and tell him all the goodies on their wish list. As a bonus, there is no more waiting in line with screaming kids! You can get in early and book* your time to meet him, so you can enjoy even more fun at Santaland. The Santaland Express train is only available at Myer Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. Height requirements to ride the train safely: minimum 80cm, maximum 122cm. *Photo bookings are only available at Myer Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Hobart.

The Myer Melbourne Giftorium will officially open on November 14 with performances by Dami Im and Hi5. If you are not in Melbourne, don’t worry, the Giftorium experience will be available in all 67 Myer stores nationwide.

Thank you Myer and Kids Business for inviting us – on the way home, Alegría said “I had such a fun day with you Mum. Can we go again one day?”

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MORE INFORMATION

Website: www.myer.com.au

Competition Time … Santa’s Magical Kingdom

Smooth_SMK_Horiz Colour copy 2We have been eagerly awaiting Santa’s Magical Kingdom’s return to the Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne this year, as it promises to be bigger and better than ever! We are also excited that our friends in Sydney are also able to join in the magic of Christmas this year when it opens for the first time at Sydney Olympic Park.

If you are new to the world of Santa’s Magical Kingdom – it is a festive family-friendly event with tickets selling out in Melbourne for the past 3 years!

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The event includes:

• A magical Christmas walk-through wonderland

• Snowland with the all new Snow Castle

• A free gift, when you meet Santa

• A brand new International Christmas Show Spectacular

• Roving Christmas characters

• Meet the Original Snow Queen and Snow Maiden from Hans Christian Anderson

• Gingerbread Land, where you can decorate your own gingerbread man

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• Interactive Letter Writing area with Mrs Claus

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• Amusement Rides & Games, including laughing clowns, a Carousel, Santa’s Sleigh Ride, the Giant Ferris Wheel and one of the Largest Super Slides in the country!

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WE HAVE AN EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR TWO LUCKY FAMILIES!

We have one family pass to Santa’s Magical Kingdom in Melbourne (on Saturday 21st of November at 10am) and another family pass to Santa’s Magical Kingdom in Sydney (on Saturday 12 December, 6pm – 9pm)!

For your chance to win:

  1. “Like” Kidding Around Australia on FACEBOOK ;
  2. “Like” Santa’s Magical Kingdom in your city – MELBOURNE or SYDNEY ;
  3. Leave a comment on this post (this will save you time when filling out the form – you won’t have to come back!)
  4. Click on your city’s link below!

ENTER HERE FOR MELBOURNE

https://gleam.io/DB4Rp/santas-magical-kingdom-melbourne

ENTER HERE FOR SYDNEY

https://gleam.io/mBxtc/santas-magical-kingdom-Sydney

Competition closes at midnight on the 1st of November, 2015. Good Luck!

Terms and Conditions:
Open to residents of Victoria and New South Wales, Australia only.  By entering this competition, you agree to subscribe to the Kidding Around Australia mailing list, if you are not already subscribed. Your privacy is protected and you can unsubscribe at any time. By entering this competition, you are also agreeing to all other terms and conditions.
This is a game of skill not a game of chance. Entries not filling in all the required fields and answering the question will be deemed invalid. The winner will be chosen by originality and creative merit, by a non involved party. The Judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
The winner will be drawn 02/11/15 9am AEST and announced on this website. The winner will also be contacted via email. The Prize is a family pass (4) tickets to Santa’s Magical Kingdom in Melbourne (on 21/11/15 at 10am) and Sydney (12/12/15 at 6pm).
One entry per household. Prizes are not transferable, changeable or redeemable for cash. Kidding Around Australia will not be held responsible for any loss, injury or damage that occurs in connection with the prize or the winners participation in the promotion.

MORE INFORMATION

DATES: Melbourne 21/11/2015 – 24/12/2015 and Sydney 12/12/2015 – 24/12/2015

TICKETS: On sale now, via Ticketmaster or through the booking office, 1300 307 740.

WEBSITE: www.santasmagicalkingdom.com.au

FACEBOOK: Santa’s Magical Kingdom – Melbourne and Santa’s Magical Kingdom – Sydney

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Kidding Around … Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games

It’s been 20 years since Michael Flatley and Lord of the Dance burst onto the world stage and we were lucky enough to be given tickets to Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games and the show had me shaking my head in amazement.

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The basic story of the show sees the Dark Lord threatening the Lord of the Dance with his robotic “army”. The beginning of the show is set in a fantasyland of waterfalls and unicorns (where all is pure and white) until the Dark Lord wreaks destruction with fire (real feel it on your face fire!), breaking the magic flute of Little Spirit and stealing the Lord of the Dance’s belt. The Lord of the Dance then sets out to get it back! To find out how it ends… well, you’ll just have to go and see it!

 Photo: Supplied
Photo: Supplied

The show stars stiletto-wearing violinists Giada Costenaro Cunningham and Eimear Reilly, Rachel O’Connor singing and Erin-Kate McIlravey performing contortionist maneuvers that would be at home at Cirque du Soleil.

Giada Costenaro Cunningham and Eimear Reilly
Giada Costenaro Cunningham and Eimear Reilly Photo: Supplied

The performers I came to see were the 34 Irish dancers that  the Lord of the Dance is famous for and they were BRILLIANT! Individually, the lead performers (“Lord of the Dance” Morgan Comer, “Dark Lord” Tom Cunningham and Andrea Kren) are impressive but when the entire company are together they are AMAZING!

A scene from Lord Of The Dance, Dangerous Games by Michael Flatley @ London Palladium (Opening 2-09-14) ©Tristram Kenton 08/14 (3 Raveley Street, LONDON NW5 2HX TEL 0207 267 5550 Mob 07973 617 355)email: tristram@tristramkenton.com
A scene from Lord Of The Dance, Dangerous Games by Michael Flatley @ London Palladium
(Opening 2-09-14)
©Tristram Kenton 08/14
(3 Raveley Street, LONDON NW5 2HX TEL 0207 267 5550 Mob 07973 617 355)email: tristram@tristramkenton.com

I have no idea how it all comes together – however, I can only assume it is hours and hours (and hours!) of rehearsal and I am sure some blood, sweat and tears. The dancers feet move at lightning speed in tap shoes and specially designed lace-up ballet shoes. There is disagreement in our house as to whether the tap beats were pre-recorded or not – I suspect a little of both. The costumes range from Feis dresses with traditional Irish embroidery, to shirtless men and women in bras and barely-there-clothes –  a point that divided attendees as to whether it was necessary.

 Photo: Supplied
Photo: Supplied

Michael Flatley (who retired in July, appears via a pre-recorded video at the beginning and end of the show) “lives” on in Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games – I just would have loved to have seen him perform live!

MORE INFORMATION

Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games is at State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne until 4 October 2015.

Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games is created, directed and choreographed by Michael Flatley and is produced in Australia by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions and Base Entertainment Asia.

WEBSITE www.lordofthedance.com 

FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/MichaelFlatleysLordoftheDance

SEASON DETAILS

MELBOURNE

Venue: Arts Centre Melbourne, State Theatre

Dates: Tuesday 29 September – Sunday 4 October 2015

Times:  Tuesday 7pm, Wednesday-Friday 8pm, Saturday 2pm & 8pm, Sunday 1pm & 6pm

Prices: From $69.90 (Booking and transaction fees may apply)

Bookings: Arts Centre Melbourne 1300 182 183 or artscentremelbourne.com.au

Groups 10+ SAVE! Call Group Bookings on 1300 889 278

CANBERRA

Venue: Canberra Theatre

Dates: Tuesday 6 October – Sunday 11 Oct 2015

Times:  Tuesday 7pm, Wednesday-Friday 730pm, Saturday 2pm & 730pm, Sunday 1pm & 6pm

Prices: From $69.90 (Booking and transaction fees may apply)

Bookings: Canberra Theatre Centre 02 6275 2700 or canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Groups 10+ SAVE! Call Group Bookings on 02 6275 2727

BRISBANE

Venue: Concert Hall, QPAC

Dates: Tuesday 13 October – Friday 16 October 2015

Times:  Tuesday 7pm, Wednesday 1pm & 8pm, Thursday & Friday 8pm

Prices: From $69.90 (Booking and transaction fees may apply)

Bookings: QPAC 136 246 or qpac.com.au

Groups 10+ SAVE! Call Group Bookings on (07) 3840 7466

GOLD COAST

Venue: Jupiters Hotel & Casino

Dates: Saturday 17 October – Sunday 18 October 2015

Times:  Saturday 8pm, Sunday 2pm & 7pm

Prices: From $79.90 (Booking and transaction fees may apply)

Bookings: Ticketek 132 849 or ticketek.com.au

Groups 10+ SAVE! Call Group Bookings on 1300 364 001

SYDNEY

Venue: Capitol Theatre

Dates: Tuesday 20 October – Sunday 25 October 2015

Times:  Tuesday 7pm, Wednesday 1pm & 8pm, Thursday – Friday 8pm,

Saturday 2pm & 8pm, Sunday 3pm

Prices: From $69.90 (Booking and transaction fees may apply)

Bookings: Ticketmaster 136 100 or ticketmaster.com.au

Groups 10+ SAVE! Call Group Bookings on 1300 889 278


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Please note all details quoted are correct at the time of publishing. All details are subject to change without notice and Kidding Around Australia takes no responsibility for information contained in this post. Please check the appropriate website to ensure that information is still correct and current.

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