On Stage Summer School for 6-10 yr olds

Theatre Royal is running an On Stage Summer School for 6-10 year olds this August, and it's a proper three-day dive into how a theatre actually works. It kicks off on Wednesday 5 August and runs from 10:00 to 16:00 each day, so it's a full-on commitment for the kids rather than a quick after-school thing.

The whole thing is built around The Twits, and the kids don't just act it out. They spend the three days working both on stage and backstage, making their own props, costumes and sound effects to tell the story. By the final day, they've put it all together into a performance that family and friends can come and watch. It's as much about the making as it is about the acting, so if you've got a kid who'd rather be building the set than standing in the spotlight, they'll find their place here too.

They describe the programme as one that grows confidence and encourages creativity and imagination, and they're clear about it being a welcoming, inclusive and inspiring experience for all abilities and backgrounds. It's not about being a natural on stage; it's about getting stuck in and seeing a project through from the first prop to the final curtain.

It's also a bit of a thrill for the kids to be working inside Theatre Royal itself. The stage they'll be on has hosted Waitress, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Dear Evan Hansen and Six, so they're in the same space where those big productions have played. The school runs from Wednesday 5 August, 10:00 to 16:00 over three days, and tickets are £170.00.