This summer I am thinking of us having a bit of a Shakespeare theme going on with our summer holiday activities.  I’m already eyeing up Henry V on DVD for a family film night and I’m thinking of going to a live Shakespeare production in our local park.  We’ve very lucky in the Midlands though with the bard’s birthplace being close by and I’m thinking we will be making some trips over to the Stratford-Upon-Avon area too.  They have some special events on too which is always fun.

This summer the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust invites you to take a trip around the globe with the world’s most famous playwright, William Shakespeare. As part of the Trust’s Crossing Borders events programme, visitors can enjoy and participate in a variety of activities inspired by international cultures alongside some familiar favourites.

There’s plenty of fun to be had for all the family at the Shakespeare Family Homes in Stratford-upon-Avon this summer. Make a Scene and help create a colourful stage set inspired by cultures from around the world spanning from India to Russia and watch live performances of your favourite Shakespeare plays come to life on the very stage that you’ve helped to create; pack a picnic and watch outdoor theatre performances in the beautiful historic gardens, enjoy fascinating talks, tours and exhibitions or even treat your pet pooch to a day of furry fun at Shakespaws Day.

Ruth Warner, Head of Visitor Experience at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust said: “Summer is such an exciting time to visit the Shakespeare Family Homes, our programming this year focuses on the theme of crossing borders which at this current time, is more relevant than ever. Visitors have the opportunity to experience other cultures and be a part of bringing the corners of the earth together through a shared love of Shakespeare. Our fantastic events cater to all, whether you want to try your hand at some crafts, give Bhangra dancing a try or just fancy a picnic with your pet, there really is something for everyone!”

Activities included in admission, unless otherwise stated. For more information and listings, see www.shakespeare.org.uk/visit/whats-on/

Family Events 

24-25 June, 10.30am – 5pm

Midsummer Madness

Mary Arden’s Farm, Wilmcote

Celebrate the longest and most magical time of the year at the farm. Magic and merriment, fairies and frolics are to be had for all the family! Learn circus skills with our jester, watch puppet shows and even make your own pop up puppet.  Take part in Tudor music workshops and join in Tudor dancing – let the fun begin!

SUMMER HOLIDAYS: 22 July – 3 SEPTEMBER, 12 – 4pm

29 July, 12pm – 4pm                                                                                                                                                                  The Big Picnic

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Shottery                                                                                                                                                                               

Pack a picnic and bring the family to the annual Big Picnic celebrations at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. Enjoy garden games, musical entertainment from local band The Rest and spellbinding performances from magician Lee Ryan. Browse the stalls filled with goods from local traders. For an extra special treat, why not tuck in to our sizzling barbeque delights? Free entry for CV37 residents (with proof of address). Free entry to members of the emergency services and their families (when official I.D. is presented).

20 August, 12pm – 4pm

Shakespeare’s New Place: One Year On

Shakespeare’s New Place, Stratford-upon-Avon       

Shakespeare’s New Place turns one and to celebrate its paper anniversary, we’re having a little party with fun games, activities and live performances. Take part in origami workshops run by the British Origami Society and enjoy live music from Bukechi in the Great Garden at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm. For grown-ups, there’s free gin tasting courtesy of the Shakespeare Distillery and free biscuits for all visitors – while stocks last! Free entry for CV37 residents (with proof of address). 

26 August, 12pm- 4pm

Shakespaw’s Day

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Shottery

All paws allowed down at the Cottage! Celebrate National Dog Day in the beautiful historic gardens at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. Bring your dog, a picnic and join in the fun with plenty of activities for your furry friends to enjoy.  If you’re feeling peckish why not enjoy our sizzling barbecue? Bring your dog and enjoy 20% off admission.

Make A Scene!

22 July – 26 August

Shakespeare Family Homes, Stratford-upon-Avon

Make a Scene at the Shakespeare Family Homes this summer. Stages for five very special productions have appeared in the gardens, each inspired by a different culture and the creators need your help to make them spectacular. From making moustaches to painting pebbles, leaf printing to wind chimes, come and make a scene, and see your set in action over the bank holiday weekend.

Make a Scene: The Tempest, South Asian-style

Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon

Get your creative juices flowing and help design a South Asian-inspired performance space based on The Tempest in the gardens of Shakespeare’s Birthplace. Working in collaboration with artists from the Sonia Sabri Company, visitors are invited to create Rangoli-designed waves across the garden using a range of colourful materials, setting the scene for a special performance of The Tempest by our in-house actors on Saturday, 26 August at 10am, 12pm and 2pm.

 Make a Scene: Romeo and Juliet, From Russia with love

Shakespeare’s New Place, Stratford-upon-Avon

Step in to a world inspired by Russian history and folklore at Shakespeare’s New Place. Join Russian artist Evgenia Golubia in making a scene inspired by Shakespeare’s tragic love story Romeo and Juliet. Using natural materials visitors will have to pick a side – red or white whilst creating mystical wind chimes, drawing comparisons from the warring Capulet’s and Montague’s and Russia’s revolutionary past. Get crafty with pebbles and learn Russian phrases whilst making the stage for the special performance of Romeo and Juliet on Sunday, 27 August at 11am and 2pm.

 Make a Scene: Twelfth Night, Italian-style

Hall’s Croft, Stratford-upon-Avon

Help create a very Italian scene at Hall’s Croft with Artist Evgenia Golubia. Make your own moustache and learn Italian phrases taken from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Unleash your inner Michelangelo and become an architect of the stage by creating a traditional Italian landscape ready for Shakespeare’s Aloud’s Twelfth Night performance on Sunday 27 August at 12pm and 4pm.

Disclosure: This post is in association with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

Last weekend we went along to the National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham to have a look at their Octopus Hideout. One of the things I most like about the National Sea Life Centre is the way that they are always redeveloping areas to create new displays, so it keeps your interest on return visits.

Now they’ve had an octopus there for some years, but this is the first time there’s actually been a dedicated area focusing on octopuses. We met Beverley, the Giant Pacific Octopus, who is one the smartest sea creatures in the animal kingdom being able to solve puzzles and negotiate complex mazes. The Giant Pacific Octopus is a true master of disguise, being able to blend in with their surroundings and hide in the smallest of places, in fact it can be quite difficult to find Beverley and you sometimes need to look quite carefully.

We got the chance to learn more about the octopus – H is always keen to learn more about sea creatures and is already quite an expert.  Did you know for instance that the only hard part of an octopus is its ‘beak’. If this can get through a tiny space, the rest of the entire body can!

There’s always plenty to see and do at the National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham.  Highlights for us on this visit were some very active otters and lots of penguin action.

As part of it 50^th anniversary celebrations, the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust has completely refurbished the Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron. We were  invited along to take a look.  The refurbishment is the first phase of the Trust’s 10-year master plan for the future of the Ironbridge Gorge museums.  We’d been to the Museum of Iron before and were keen to see what had changed.

H enjoyed learning about rocks in the first room of the museum.  He was able to handle the type of rocks that had made the area the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.  He examined coal and iron ore under a magnifying screen.

Then we went up to the top floor to learn about how iron has been used by mankind through the ages.  Humanity has been using iron for thousands of years and it was interesting to find out about early blast furnaces to trace the technological developments that led to iron being used on an industrial scale.  As you can see the museum is light and bright inside and they have added some interactive features.

There are some nice new touches like the opportunity to dress up a little and take a selfie.

We got to see lots of items that have been made with iron over the ages.  Some were very well-known and quite familiar. But, others were more unusual like this magnificent Deerhound Iron Table which is quite spectacular.

The Museum of Iron is interesting and educational, but it’s not somewhere to spend the whole day.  We went round there first and then went onto neighbouring Enginuity which is a very interactive science museum, which H loves visiting.  You can also easily combine it with a visit to the Darby Houses.  There isn’t a cafe on site, but we had sandwiches from the van parked in the Enginuity courtyard and sat outside as it was a nice day.  There are plenty of places to eat in Ironbridge itself if you want more choice.