HUNT for Book Witches, discover your wild side and have fun with Viking gods this half term, as Dorset’s rural touring arts charity Artsreach brings a varied programme of theatre and adventure for children of all ages over the February half term, from Sunday 15th to Saturday 21st, with live music, magical puppetry and more.

Somerset-based Front Room WSM brings Yara in the Wild Wood, a charming story with captivating puppetry, exquisite non-verbal storytelling and spellbinding original folk music. Yara lives wild and free in the woods, but there’s more to these woods than the trees. This is an endearing tale of growing up, getting wiser and making unexpected friends – come into the woods and explore your wild side in East Stour at 2pm on Sunday 15th February, Hinton Martell at 11am on Tuesday 17th and Cerne Abbas at 2pm on Wednesday 18th.

Coppice Theatre wants help hunting book witches in an enchanting show that celebrates libraries, storytelling and imagination. Kira loves reading – visiting the library to find a new book is her favourite thing … until one day the words in the books start disappearing and the adults start to get grumpy.

With her new friend, the book worm, Kira has to uncover why words are vanishing, and where these book monsters have come from! Could there be a Book Witch in the library? With live music and puppetry, How to Catch a Book Witch also includes key word signing and integrated captions. Join Coppice Theatre in Child Okeford at 11am on Wednesday 18th February, and Litton Cheney at 10.30 on Thursday 19th. After each performance there is also the opportunity to take part in a creative workshop and make your own book witch!

Finally, join skilled storytellers, Ulf and Odd, for a comedic romp through a whole host of ancient Nordic tales and the world of Viking gods in The Misadventures of Thor. Thor is tall, brave and strong, but not too bright! His days are not always full of heroic thunder, but instead are filled with hapless blunder! Like the day he was almost married to an oafish giant or when he thought he was short-changed as the golden presents were handed out.

Rattlebox and Angel Heart Theatre present a new family show, full of their usual blend of puppetry, storytelling and larger-than-life characters. Catch them in Sturminster Newton at 10.30am on 19th February, Broadwindsor at 2pm on 20th and Sixpenny Handley at 11am on 21st.

For more information on these half-term shows, visit www.artsreach.co.uk