IF you re stuck for ideas to keep your kids entertained during school holidays then The Pavilion may well be able to help. Recently professional theatre group EduStage held a week s music theatre course at the Pavillion, aimed at kids aged eight to 12.

IF you're stuck for ideas to keep your kids entertained during school holidays then The Pavilion may well be able to help.

Recently professional theatre group EduStage held a week's music theatre course at the Pavillion, aimed at kids aged eight to 12. The course was from 10am - 4pm, Monday to Friday, with a final show production on the Friday.

The eighteen children who attended were involved right from the start with costumes, acting and dancing. Jeffrey Whitton, together with Lizi Mackey and Nicola New, ensured the youngsters got maximum fun and enjoyment from the course. Based on Jeffrey's story, music and lyrics, entitled The Music Box is set in a village many years ago. Strange events had been happening but one day a stranger arrived with his magic box...

The 18 children were each given a part and were fully involved from day one. Samantha Curry, who played the part of the deputy Mayor, said: "It was great fun. I really wish it didn't have to end." Tobias the thief was played by Liam Mabin, even with a broken ankle, and he said: "I didn't want to miss it even with my ankle!"

I was lucky enough to see the final show and, from the looks on all the children's faces, it obviously was a very worthwhile experience. The five boys and 12 girls put on a production with stunning costumes, superb lighting and a great audience on Friday made it a special day for them.

Simon Findel-Hawkins, the manager of The Pavilion, said: "It was great to get it off the ground, nothing like this is provided anywhere locally and it can only be good for the town." He added: "Because of the success of this show, and the fact that it fits in well with the ethos of the Pavilion as a community venue, we plan to run more school holiday breaks like this in the future. The next one is at the end of July, beginning of August."

All the children participating were from the local area and played a number of acting, singing and dancing parts and who knows we may have just seen the next Brad Pitt or Catherine Zeta-Jones!

Dave Somerton-Rees