We have gathered together the best ideas for young people and children, from teens to toddlers and beyond, to give them all something to do during lockdown next week, during half term. There’s so much to choose from, just join in the fun!
1) Valentina’s Galaxy – 13 – 17 February. For ages 2-6. North Wall – A fascinating, funny and moving experience created especially for young space cadets! Inspired by Valentina Tereshkova the first ever woman in space and Mae Jemison, the first woman of colour in space. Designed by Katy Wilson and Directed by Heather Fulton of Too Many Penguins? fame, this immersive performance will captivate children and adults alike with a combustible concoction of experiments, rocket launches and star gazing. (See main pic) Watch via a free YouTube link at https://www.thenorthwall.com/whats-on/valentinas-galaxy/
2) Rolling Down The Road, 13-19 February, The Story Museum. Ages 3-11, aimed as ‘whole family’ viewing. A magical musical bus ride for children and families from family singer and songwriter David Gibb. This brand new theatre show is brimming with music and song for everyone to enjoy.
David is proud to be the driver of the world’s first bus to be powered by song. However, his passengers’ choice of music can sometimes be a little unusual. From talking sunflowers to digging for buried treasure, David needs your help to find the perfect song for each of his passengers and get his magical, musical bus rolling down the road.
Devised by David and best selling children’s author Michelle Robinson, produced and directed by Half Moon Theatre in London and originally meant to open at The Story Museum in Oxford in April 2020, the pandemic meant that the bus had to remain in the depot a little longer than expected. However, it’s finally out on the road in this new filmed version, recorded in the museum’s beautiful new Woodshed theatre space. Screening tickets cost £10 per household. https://www.storymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/rolling-down-the-road-online
3) The PappyShow Movement Workshop, 15 February, North Wall for ages 12-17 An online YouthLab theatre workshop for anyone up for doing some moving and shaking! It’s quite physical though, so be prepared to sweat, push yourself and have lots of fun. £5 https://www.thenorthwall.com/whats-on/the-pappyshow-movement-workshop/
4) Emma Boor’s Play the World Online on Friday via Pegasus Theatre on Zoom. Join Emma and a host of puppet friends in creative, immersive play exploring a different world each week! There are 16 different themes to experience, from Shoe Farms to Outer Space. Each session is packed with fun and engaging ways for you and your little one to play imaginatively and creatively with simple, everyday objects. https://pegasustheatre.org.uk
5) Emma’s online show ‘Heidi and the Snow Globe’ for 0-6’s and five free mindfulness workshops for children is also available until the end of February. The winter themed online theatrical puppet adventure set in the snowy Alps is filled with heart, humour, and the resilience of a girl who has an important job to do. You’ll meet Heidi, whose mind is as swirly as a snow-globe! Her mother is ill and needs her to fetch medicine from the top of the mountain. How will she face her fears (in the form of three grumpy goats) and conquer blizzards, avalances and a hungry wolf? A show with loads of laughs, magical puppetry, music, clowning and lots of joining in! http://Download it here at https://www.wildboorshows.com/
6) Musical urban fairytale SAMMY AND THE BEANSTALK, Oxford Playhouse until Mon 22 Feb for 7+. Olivier Award-winning OperaUpClose presents their fun and spooky, contemporary urban fairy tale based on classic winter tales, both cosy and gothic, as well as opera, theatre and film to create a thrilling story-telling experience, in a wonderfully intimate setting which you can livestream.
7) The Ashmolean – There is so much going on at the Oxford Museum next week with an extensive virtual programme to enjoy. Start off on its Home Learning page with the Ancient Olympics https://www.ashmolean.org/home-learning and work your way through some fascinating subject matter, as well as lots of fun ways to explore the past. From the Ashmolean’s own Animal Crossing game, colouring, puzzles, craft activities, lantern making, drawing to videos about stone-age tools, technology, music, and art.
There’s also a One World event again this Sunday, celebrating Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day. Learn to make a ‘Mythical Mask’ with local artist Mani from Fusion Arts, inspired by an Assyrian relief of a bird-headed spirit at the Ashmolean. https://www.ashmolean.org/event/one-world-love-and-new-beginnings
8) Creation – PUT ON A ZOOM PLAY IN A WEEK. 15 – 19 FEBRUARY. 11-16 year-old’s. Spend the week creating your own digital play to perform live on Zoom to family and friends. The theme is Love & Friendship, so look out for star-crossed lovers and a trio of Musketeers as you discover some of literature’s most famous stories and work on your performance skills.
All workshops are delivered live over Zoom daily with professional actors and theatre-makers, accompanied by exclusive extra videos and activities from the School of Creativity website. And while the little ones group has already sold out there is still space on the MECHANICALS for ages 11-16. 12pm – 1pm & 2pm – 4pm. https://www.creationtheatre.co.uk/holiday-workshops/half-term-workshops/
9) Cherwell Theatre Company, Banbury – For young theatre-makers. Join in with Pete Stays Home on Tuesday 16 Feb, devise the story from 10-12pm and 2pm-4pm and follow up on Thursday 18 from 10am-12 noon with costume making with Rachael Twyford. https://www.cherwelltheatrecompany.co.uk
10) Oxford Museum of Natural History – Super Science Saturday Online 8+. The Museum houses an incredible collection of over 7 million objects from nature. It is also where people research our natural world. And as this year’s Super Science Saturday is online, the theme is ‘Diversity’. Activities show how a wide variety of people from many organisations work together to protect our planet and conserve the natural world in many different ways. In each section, you will find out about a different area of science, the people who are doing this research, and be able try out an activity. (Activities are designed for children 8 years old and over). https://www.oumnh.ox.ac.uk/super-science-saturday-online
11) In line with updated Government advice, both Oxford Botanic Garden and Harcourt Arboretum are open to the publicans long as you pre-book a time slot, a great way to get some fresh air in beautiful surroundings while learning something new. Oh, and theCelia’s Cafe van with its Dutch treats and coffees is onsite in Nuneham Courtenay. https://www.obga.ox.ac.uk/visiting-during-coronavirus
12) Mariella Bliss’ Half Term Baking Course this Thursday at 10am and 5pm includes bread making and chocolate hedgehogs. Mariella is well known for her amazing pasta, bread and pizza and regularly supplies farmer’s markets all over the county. This half term for just £10 per family of which Mariella will be donating £5 to Oxfordshire Mind. Please email mariellabliss@gmail.com for full details.
13) Cornerstone Storytime until Thursday 25 Feb 2021. Mums, dads, carers and little ones can join in on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4pm on the Didcot theatre’s Facebook page for a livestream reading of Mary Poppins! Read a chapter a day and join in by commenting, sharing pictures you’ve drawn or invite family members to join and watch with you. Family friendly. https://www.facebook.com/CornerstoneDidcot/
14) It’s Pancake Day on Shrove Tuesday. Enjoy our guide on where to get your takeaways here: http://551.326.mywebsitetransfer.com/pancake-day-heres-where-to-get-them-from-biscoff-banoffee-pie-to-spiced-sausage-and-hash-brown-its-all-going-on/
15) Check out our takeaway guide and get them involved. http://551.326.mywebsitetransfer.com/top-60-oxfordshires-definitive-2021-takeaway-guide-eat-like-a-god-and-support-your-local-cafes-pubs-and-restaurants/ For example Killingworth Castlein Wootton near Woodstock has extended their usual walking weekend takeaway menu from Wednesday to give you somewhere to trek to! 10am-3pm. Think hotdogs and dirty fries. Trust me they make the best bribe! https://www.thekillingworthcastle.com/takeaway-menu
