This Is London - 31 January 2020

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Power UP at the Science Museum
© Benjamin Ealovega, Science Museum Group.
YOUNG PLANET APP
A new first-of-its-kind app,
YoungPlanet, helps parents keep kids’
stuff out of landfill, declutter their home
and curb the high cost of raising little
ones who grow up so fast. YoungPlanet
enables parents to turn outgrown toys
into items other families can enjoy, all
completely for free.
In addition to cutting out waste, it is
also setting out to give families equal
access to childrens’ items and help curb
child poverty issues. After a successful
beta in Hackney, where rates of child
poverty are some of the highest in the
UK, the app is launching London-wide
with a strong community and hundreds
of items already being shared.
POWER UP RETURNS TO THE
SCIENCE MUSEUM THIS SPRING
This spring sees the return of the
Science Museum’s interactive gaming
extravaganza, Power UP, featuring the
very best video games, computers and
consoles from the last five decades.
Featuring 160 consoles and hundreds
of games from retro arcade classics to
the latest in virtual reality, Power UP will
take visitors on an immersive journey
through the history of gaming. From
Pong on the 1970s Binatone and Pac-
Man – which celebrates its 40th year –
on an Atari 2600 through to the latest
PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo and more,
Power UP will explore the evolution of
the console, allowing gaming fans and
novices to discover the latest in gaming
technology and experience the classics
that continue to inspire game makers
around the world.
Alistair Otto, Associate Commercial
Director at the Science Museum Group,
said: ‘Video games have captivated
audiences since the humble Pong
launched in 1972 and have continued to
evolve as platforms for storytelling,
while remaining at the frontier of
advancing technologies. At Power UP
visitors can travel in time from the
earliest consoles to the latest in VR,
experiencing the thrill of gaming through
the ages while discovering the
technology and future possibilities of
this truly exciting field.'
WHY BEETHOVEN THREW THE
STEW – HALF TERM WITH THE LPO
As the world celebrates Ludwig van
Beethoven’s 250th birthday in 2020, the
London Philharmonic Orchestra takes to
Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall
stage for a live FUNharmonics family
concert during half term on Sunday
16 February (at midday), introducing
families to one of the most famous –
and brilliant – composers in the history
of music.
Inspired by the book of the same
name by cellist Steven Isserlis, this
concert explores some of the best
moments from some of Beethoven’s
greatest orchestral music, as well as
revealing the real man behind the music.
The audience will get the chance to
guess Beethoven’s mood from the
music, conduct the Orchestra just like he
did, and join in to sing with the LPO, all
while finding out more about his life and
what he was like.
The concert will be presented by
Rachel Leach and conducted by Ben
Glassberg and also includes a new work
by Rachel Leach performed alongside
excerpts of Beethoven’s most popular
orchestral works.
In addition to the concert, the LPO
also present free hands-on activities
around Southbank Centre between 10.00
and 12.00. Children aged 6+ with a
concert ticket can ‘have a go’ at different
orchestral instruments under expert
instruction, take part in a singing
workshop, or get creative with drop-in
arts and crafts activities on the Clore
Ballroom.
The London Philharmonic Orchestra
– widely regarded as one of the world’s
finest orchestras working on the
international stage – has brought the
wonder of orchestral music to children
for decades through its FUNharmonics
concerts. These much-loved, hour long
concerts offer an engaging and fun
introduction to classical music for
children aged 6 and over.
For tickets, telephone the LPO Box
Office on 020 7840 4242.
T H I S I S L O N D O N M A G A Z I N E • T H I S I S L O N D O N O N L I N E