SUMMER School returns to The Mayflower in August with a variety of masterclasses and workshops for all ages from dance and song through to puppetry and cartooning.

Simon Slater, Helena Fox, Lisa Faye, and English National Ballet will lead sessions focussed on acting, musical theatre and dance.

Claire Harvey will be running a puppetry workshop and Chris Bennett runs a story making workshop and a family cartooning session.

CATS Musical Theatre Workshop is a day of acting, singing and fun exploring the popular musical, CATS! Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical is one of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history.

Participants will have the chance to explore this musical with Music Theatre professional, Lisa Faye in an exciting day-long workshop which concludes with a short presentation for family.

For the younger ones there is a fantastic half day Family Cartooning Dinosaur Workshop.

Family groups are invited to join Illustrator and Cartoonist Chris Bennett from Orange Apples to work together to create their very own Dastardly Dinosaurs and Manic Monsters. Take home their own new comic strip and contribute to a Group Art Piece – Monster Mayhem – for exhibition in the Ticket South Shop in the Marlands.

Helena Fox returns to bring her new and exciting workshop based around the classic story of The Nutcracker. This two-day drama workshop will explore the Nutcracker story through physical theatre, character work and drama games.

Puppeteer and performer Claire Harvey will be running a Puppetry Workshop. Participants will spend two days making and operating hand puppets and exploring how to use them, culminating in a workshop sharing to family and friends.

Simon Slater, fresh from a six-month run in the Spice Girls Musical Viva Forever brings his Actor/Musician Workshop. Participants will explore what it is to be an actor/musician in theatre today, create good music in many genres and become a strong performer.

English National Ballet have created a series of workshops for a variety of ages and abilities.

These are an opportunity to work with some of the best ballet dancers and choreographers. These range from Adult Ballet and Ballet fit classes through to Youth Ballet. Special workshops focus on their autumn show Le Corsaire with a swashbuckling Pirates dance workshop for 7-14 year olds.