THERE will be plenty to keep local children occupied during next month’s half-term holiday if they visit one of the Midlands tourist hot-spots and it’s all thanks to Stratford-upon-Avon’s Royal Shakespeare Company.

To coincide with the launch of the RSC’s forthcoming production, A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A play for the Nation, the Stratford-based theatre company is offering families a whole host of activities over the February half-term, based on Shakespeare’s magical play.

Highlights include:-

• Sing-songs inspired by Shakespeare’s mystical play;

• The opportunity to create your own version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in a day with help from an RSC expert;

• And also the chance to explore a range of props, costumes and accessories based on the fairies and Athenian court.

Full details are -

Play in a Day at the Clore Learning Centre - £25: Monday, February 15, 10am-4.30pm, suitable for those aged 8-10 years. Tuesday, February 16, 10am -4.30pm, suitable for those aged 11-14 years
. Wednesday, February 17, 10am-4.30pm. Suitable for those aged 15-18 years, children can create their very own version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in just one day with help from an RSC expert. Lunch is not included.

Sing a Fairy Song at the Clore Learning Centre - £3.50 adult, £2.50 child. Monday, February 15, 2-3pm. Come and sing your heart out with an RSC voice coach to songs inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream. No experience necessary. For ages eight and over.

Story Garden at the Clore Learning Centre - £3.50 adult, £2.50 child. Tuesday, February, 16 11am-12noon. Become an actor and tell the story of A Midsummer Night’s Dream with our storyteller leading the way. Suitable for ages four to eight.

Secrets from the Collection - A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Upper Circle Bar, Royal Shakespeare Theatre - free. Tuesday, February 16 – Wednesday, February 17, 2-4pm. Explore a selection of rarely displayed props, costumes and accessories from the RSC Collection and find out more about the Athenian court and fairies from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Suitable for all ages.

Introducing: A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Clore Learning Centre - £3.50 adult, £2.50 child. Tuesday, February 16, 2-3pm. Take part in this fun introduction to the play. Discover the story and themes in A Midsummer Night’s Dream as you work as an actor does - on your feet. Suitable for ages eight and over.

Stage Fighting at the Clore Learning Centre - £3.50 adult, £2.50 child. Wednesday, February 17, 11am-12noon and 2-3pm. Re-create the action from A Midsummer Night’s Dream in this special workshop.  Suitable for ages 10 and over.

Voice Skills Workshop at the Clore Learning Centre - £25 (lunch not included). Friday, February 19, 10am-4.30pm. Budding actors looking to get the most out of their voice will enjoy taking part in this specially designed RSC Voice Skills Workshop. Through exercises and games, young people can learn how to use their voice in performance, hear how actors prepare their voice and also get the chance to perform extracts from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The session is for 14-18 year-olds only.

Design a Dream Workshop at the Clore Learning Centre - £3.50 adult, £2.50 child. Friday, February 19, 11am-1pm. Join the RSC’s Assistant Designers to create your own set design for A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Be inspired by the production and find out more about what it takes to be a designer and what the job involves whilst creating your own model box.

There will also be a number of free drop-in activities during half-term for which there is no need to book, although children must be accompanied by an adult.

These include - Dressing Up Box: Cloakroom, Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Monday – Sunday, 10am-5pm. Dress-up with a range of special costumes from the RSC Costume Store. The permanent dressing-up box is for all ages.

Play Cart: RSC Riverside Cafe. Monday – Sunday, 10am-5pm. Families can enjoy an array of craft activities with the RSC Play Cart available in the Riverside Cafe.

Adventure Bags: Available from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre cloakroom. Monday – Sunday, 10am-5pm. Families can explore the Royal Shakespeare Theatre with an RSC adventure bag for children aged between six and 10. Special story blankets based on Shakespeare’s plays are also available for those aged two to four years.

Drop in Craft Activities: Upper Circle Bar, Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Wednesday, February 17 – Friday, February 19, 2-4pm. Free craft activities for all ages, just drop-in and take part for as long or as little as you like. Suitable for all ages.