Banbury's professional theatre company offers holiday activities - starting next month.

After a hugely successful 2019, CTC has announced an increased timetable of holiday activities through 2020, starting with accessible theatre workshops in the February half term.

“This is another exciting opportunity for young people to work with industry professionals,” said Artistic Director Tristan Jackson-Pate.

“2019 saw our largest number of participants yet with CTC running a packed programme, reaching over 1,500 people. This year, we aim to have activities running throughout every school holiday.”

Participants aged 12 and over can take part in The Shakespeare Sessions where they'll work with Jackson-Pate and Eloise Secker, an actor from the Royal Shakespeare Company.

During the week, young people will explore classic texts, scripts and sonnets culminating in two performances of a Shakespeare-style cabaret.

Participants aged 7-11 years will devise a new environmental storytelling play; The Park Ranger, creating woodland characters and their stories, even creating puppets and joining in with some gardening.

Sophie Beckinsale, director of The Park Ranger play-in-a-week, said: “It’s more important now than ever that young people are learning about the environment and the effect we as individuals have on the planet.”

Thanks to generous support from Cherwell District Council, The Park Ranger project will appear at local schools and community events this spring as an interactive, half-day workshop using the stories and characters the participants created.

The play in a week workshops will run at Banbury and Bicester College, Broughton Road from Monday-Friday, February 17 - 21. The cost is £50 and bursary places are available to those who need them.

Anyone interested in taking part should email [email protected] or visit the company’s website here.