To mark the opening of A Midsummer
Night’s Dream on June 27, we have come up with ten adventures for children inspired
by the Shakespeare's plays. Although the majority of these ideas can be put
into practice in your own back garden, some of them will enable young fans to
discover Shakespeare stories hidden all around Staffordshire and the country.
1. Pet a donkey: One
of the funniest characters in A Midsummer Night's Dream is Bottom. He provides
comic relief throughout the play and, during its course; his head is
transformed into that of a donkey by the fairy Puck. So why not spend a
summer’s day with the children visiting a donkey sanctuary or farm? Amerton Farm in
Staffordshire has a petting area where you can see the two donkeys alongside
chickens, cows, pigs, cats and a dog! 
2. Make friends with a fairy: Another interesting activity for a little
one is making friends with fairies! Yes, fairies! Cannock Chase
has loads of them hidden amongst trees and shrubs. Parents and their children
could spend an exciting morning trying to make friends with a fairy and take a picture
of one of these magical creatures. 
3. Make a Shakespeare inspired costume: This
one is an easy task, which only requires some old rags, bits of fabric, rope...
and lots of imagination! Fairies, wild creatures, kings and knights costumes
can be brought to life with a little effort and some creativity. 
4. Throw a Shakespeare party: Once your costume is ready, why not show
it off to friends? Organising a Shakespeare inspired children’s party would be
a great incentive for the little ones to see their projects though and get
recognition for their hard work. Don’t forget the party food though!
5. Organise a Ghost Hunt: Shakespeare was passionate about the
supernatural and many of his characters are actually ghosts: Banquo (Macbeth), Caesar (Julius Caesar), the ghost of Hamlet’s father (Hamlet), ghosts of Edward Prince of Wales and Henry VI (Richard III). So why nor organise a
ghost hunt for those adventurous littlies? Spooky!
6. Throw a masked ball: If you thought putting together a
Shakespearean costume was exciting and fun, why not try and craft a mask as
well? And there's lots of Shakespearian inspiration to choose from; whether it’s
a donkey mask, a lion or any other mystical creature, the little ones will get
hours of fun out of it.
7. Put on a play: Your mask and costume’s ready so how about putting
on a play? There are lots of children’s versions of Shakespeare’s comedies available,
so let your little one’s dramatic talent shine through. The best performances
could be rewarded with small prizes like books, party bags or other little
treats.
8. Make some music:
There’s nothing more inspiring than learning how to play an instrument and it’s
often one of the skills adults most wish they had picked up as a child. Lots of
summer schools organise music classes, so why not check out the local offerings
and see what instruments best suits your child? 
9. Make some magic: Shakespeare's characters often appeal to magic
when trying to solve problems. Children could have a stab at creating their own
magic spell; try doing this on a rainy day and encourage them to create a spell
which brings back the warm weather! This is Britain after all; we could all do
with a sunny day! 
10. Take a witch photo: All
you need is a broom, a camera and a pointy hat! Ask the child to jump while
holding the broom and try shooting the photo while they're in mid air. The
result is a picture that makes them look like they are flying on an enchanted
broomstick.
settings and great music at this year's Stafford Festival Shakespeare. Tickets are available
for as little as £10 and can be purchased by calling the friendly box office on 01785 254653 or by visiting www.staffordfestivalshakespeare.co.uk
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