Theatre Royal's half-term: shows for all ages

If you are still sorting out the February half-term, Theatre Royal Plymouth has put together a programme that runs from Saturday 14 to Sunday 22 February, with something for almost every age group. It is worth noting that the theatre is a historic building in its own right, with a 200-year history and a Grade II listing, so a trip here doubles as a bit of local heritage.

At the youngest end, The Magic Box is an immersive production aimed at babies, waddlers, toddlers and children up to eight, built around puppets, lights, sound and balloons. It runs for about 45 minutes plus a meet-and-greet, with performances at 11am and 1.30pm on Saturday 14 February, and at 11am on Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 February. Tickets are £10 for children, £12 for adults and free for under-twelves. For the very little ones, Tiny Tales is a theatrical storytelling experience held weekly on Thursdays from 10.30am to 11.15am, and it carries on into spring.

For slightly older children, The Vikings is a storytelling adventure for ages five and up, with narrators Turf and Clod exploring Viking legends and battles set in Lydford. It runs for about an hour, with performances at 1.30pm on Sunday 15, Friday 20, Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 February. The Little Prince also forms part of the half-term line-up, with performances, workshops and creative sessions, including a specific workshop for children aged eight to eleven on 20 February.

If your child is more interested in dance than drama, The Groovement Project Dance Company is holding its February Half Term Dance Day on Friday 20 February, from 9am to 4pm. It is aimed at dancers aged ten and over from across the South West and covers commercial, hip hop, contemporary, LA-style choreography and breaking, all directed by award-winning faculty and finishing with a video shoot at GPDC studios. Seven hours of it will cost £25.

It is also worth knowing what else is on around the city if you want to build a full day or two around a show. The Box, with its free entry and galleries, runs a series of half-term activities including Family Fun: Tell Me a Story, Family Fun: Do What Makes You Happy from 17 to 20 February, Quiet and Calm Family Crafts, Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy and Journeys with Mai. The Plymouth Literary Festival falls on 14 and 15 February, and the Plymouth Laureate of Words: The Class of 2025-27 event is on 14 February. Soapbox Children's Theatre in Devonport also stages The Magic Box and The Vikings, so there is a bit of overlap there. Saltram House, the Grade I listed Georgian stone mansion, has its free Fairy House Trail through the garden, where you find ten hidden houses and complete activities to earn a magic sticker at the gift shop, plus craft sessions to make your own fairy house. Crownhill Library puts on a Carealot-themed treasure hunt on 16, 18 and 20 February, and Royal William Yard holds a free half-term children's craft event, which needs booking. And if you are after something for the adults once the kids are sorted, Miss Saigon runs at Theatre Royal Plymouth from 17 to 28 February.