YOUNGSTERS across the region have no reason to say they are bored over the half term - events all over the area have been tailored to keeping them amused.

Apart from all sorts of bank holiday and half term attractions, local theatres are mucking in with special events for their budding young audience members and performers.

In Chipping Norton, The Theatre has events almost every day for five to 16-year-olds, under the theme Wild Things and Monster Mash. It kicks off on Tuesday with drama workshops focusing on Roald Dahl. Five to seven-year-olds will look at characters, while eight to 11s will bring to life some Dirty Beasts and Revolting Rhymes.

On Wednesday it's dance time, with a monster dance party for younger ones while older ones will work out some monstrous routines.

Thursday is arts and crafts day when the younger ones will make a clay monster and the older children will create moveable rod puppet creatures. Friday is for older children when it will be time to, literally, clown around with Pez en Raya in two sessions for eight and overs.

The youngsters will be bringing characters to life on Saturday, May 31, in an animation workshop where they will be making their own versions of Wallace and Gromit characters to learn all about stop-motion animation (nine-12s in the morning, 13-plus in the afternoon).

In Gloucestershire, the ReachOut community and education department at Cheltenham's Everyman Theatre is staging a Make A Play workshop from Tuesday to Thursday.

For details, contact The Theatre, Chipping Norton, on 01608 642350 and call the Everyman box office on 01242 572573.