FAMILIES are being offered an array of Halloween fun this month by the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Highlights in Stratford-upon-Avon will include free activities from a special witch-inspired family trail around the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, to dressing up as a princess or a king with props from the RSC’s very own costume store.

A range of workshops will also be available where families can learn more about how to create their very own Halloween inspired cuts and bruises, as well as check out some of Shakespeare’s spooky spells.

The free drop-in activities on offer, for which there is no need to book, include....

Dressing up box on Monday – Sunday, October 27-November 2, 10am - 5pm: Get yourself into the Halloween spirit and dress-up as a princess or a king with a range of special props from the RSC Costume Store. The permanent dressing-up box is based on the ground floor of the theatre. and is for all ages.

Spooky Secrets from the Stores – Upper Circle Foyer on Tuesday, October 28 – Thursday, October 30, 2pm - 4pm: Explore a selection of rarely displayed props, costumes and accessories from the RSC Collection and unearth stories of Shakespeare’s villains and magical characters. Suitable for all ages.

Halloween activity trail - Saturday, October 25 – Sunday, November 2, 10am - 5pm: Double, double, toil and trouble – families can follow a Macbeth style witches’ trail around the theatre discovering clues along the way as part of a spooky Halloween family trail. It features specially commissioned drawings from female illustrators Girls Who Draw. Visitors can also enjoy the RSC’s Theatre Family Trail which explores the building, as well as offering clues to questions on the theatre’s history and stories.

These three events are suitable for all ages but children must be accompanied by an adult.

Charges will apply to several workshops which include -

Blood, Guts and Gore – Upper Circle Bar on Wednesday, October 29 and Thursday, October 30, 11am - 12 noon. Join former RSC Head of Wigs and Make-up, Brenda Leedham, as she talks about the tricks of the trade and how bruises, cuts and scars are created. Join in the Halloween fun as willing participants will be required. Suitable for all ages and all children must be accompanied by an adult. (£3.50 adults, £2.50 children).

Singing workshop – Upper Circle Bar on Wednesday, October 29 and Thursday, October 30, 2 - 3pm. Come and sing your heart out with an RSC voice coach. No experience necessary. For ages eight and over. All children must be accompanied by an adult. (£3.50 adults, £2.50 children).

Drawing workshop – Upper Circle Bar on Monday, October 27, 10.30am - 12 noon and 2pm - 3.30pm Tuesday, October 28, 10.30am - 12 noon and 2pm - 3.30pm and Friday, October 31, 10.30am - 12 noon and 2 - 3.30pm. Join artist Tom Cross to create characters inspired by work from World War One cartoonist Captain Bruce Bairnsfather who fought in the war under the Warwickshire Regiment. The workshop coincides with the RSC’s exhibition on Bairnsfather and upcoming play The Christmas Truce, which features Bairnsfather as a leading character, and marks the centenary of World War One. The workshop is suitable for those aged eight and over and all children must be accompanied by an adult. (£5).

There are many other activities on offer taking place at the theatre and also in the Clore Learning Centre and at The Other Place.

To see a full list of what’s on offer please visit the theatre’s website at www.rsc.org.uk/whats-on/events