The Merlin theatre, along with all performance venues, is of course currently closed and this has left a huge hole in the lives of student actors and drama-loving children as well arts audiences. So it is with great pleasure that The Merlin theatre is happy to share the news that the weekly Tri.Art Theatre School drama sessions, covering ages 7-16, which usually run at the theatre itself, have been transferred online.

Known as 'Get Connected' the two different workshops start this week and will now run as a set of interactive online drama workshops for young people, temporarily replacing the Theatre Club, Drama Club and Youth Theatre classes. Theatre Director and drama workshop leader, Claudia Pepler, is keen to welcome new members as well as those who have already participated in the previous terms.

As she tells us "Although these new sessions have been born as a response to our existing students getting in touch to tell us how much they miss their classes and their theatre-friendships, we absolutely welcome new members.

This is fresh start and a new beginning in so many ways and, along with fellow senior workshop leader Maddy Herbert, we will be opening with 'get to know' you activities and games so it is an ideal time for any young person who enjoys drama to jump on board."

Students, will 'attend' the 'Get Connected' clubs on Zoom and will be encouraged to be creative in this fun opportunity to connect and collaborate with their peers, much like the workshops which normally happen together on the Merlin stage.

Led by Claudia and Maddy, the sessions will explore drama and acting techniques and skills, teach the basics of how plays are made and how actors initially start to train and play theatre games leading to working together on longer projects.

As the Merlin Director saidt "All anyone needs to join in is a love of drama, access to the internet and maybe a pen and paper. It's so important to stay connected with others, particularly right now when a lot of young people are missing out on their time together; theatre has always been a special way of doing that, whether or not you're in the same room!"

The course of five weekly sessions costs £20 with discounts for siblings; if you would like to join then further information and enrolment is through [email protected]