AS IF being snowed in wasn’t enough, now there’s half-term to contend with.

And if your inspirational bank is empty then you can rest assured – Oxfordshire has done you proud with some great ideas here to keep your little darlings busy all week.

For a start 4,880 free theatre tickets are up for grabs at the Oxford Playhouse from Monday for Oxford’s under 26-year-old’s.

The Playhouse is one of 22 venues across the south east participating in A Night Less Ordinary, to encourage young people to experience how inspirational the arts can be – for free – and inspire a new generation of theatre-goers in the process.

The Playhouse will be kicking off with a day of free theatre tours; mask making workshops; free tickets to historical tragedy Don Carlos and free tickets to Etiquette, the outdoor theatrical experience taking place on Cowley Road. Log on to www.anightlessordinary.org.uk l Creation Theatre Company has expanded its range of workshops for half-term.

The fun starts on Monday with a popular Put on a Play in Three Days for six to eight year olds, and Put on a Play in a Week for ages nine to 12, which sees the participants racing against the clock to rehearse and perform their own version of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

There are also one-day Acting Masterclasses in Movement and Masks for 10-14 year olds, and Shakespeare’s Villains for 13-16 year olds, Stage Combat (nine-12), Mask Mayhem (six to eight), and a Stage Craft workshop, where participants aged 13-16, can work with theatre designers to create puppets, costumes and sets for The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Younger children aged five to seven can also explore and enjoy classic children’s poems. Box Office on 01865 766266.

The Theatre Chipping Norton has also got a great masterclass planned.

Join Kev Sutherland, who writes and draws for The Beano (The Bash Street Kids) and has worked for Doctor Who, Viz, and Marvel comics, for a workshop on Saturday.

During the Masterclass, the group will produce a comic containing a strip by each participant, a copy of which you take home and everyone will receive a caricature by Kev.

Box office on 01608 642350.

Tomorrow at The Mill in Banbury the actors of Myths and Legwarmers present Little Red Riding Hood and the Fairy Tale Inspector which rather reverses the famous story of poor old Granny and the wolf!

This hugely enjoyable stage show is suitable for children aged four to 10. Box office on 01295 252050.

The Oxford Playhouse will be BUZZING! as Anneliese Emmans Dean performs her award-winning multimedia show in celebration of garden minibeasts, next Friday at 5pm.

The show by the prize-winning poet and photographer and composer and viola player John Rayson features bees, millipedes, flies, moths, butterflies, mites and beetles.

For audiences ages six to 106, celebrate Darwin’s bicentenary. Box Office on 01865 305305 or oxfordplayhouse.com l The New Theatre, Oxford is holding free open auditions next Saturday for its sixth summer production The Wizard of Oz.

It’s looking for local and regional youngsters aged eight to 18 years to fill lead roles including Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tinman and The Lion, as well as chorus roles, such as the Munchkins and the Wicked Witch’s terrifying Flying Monkeys.

Auditions will be organised alphabetically – auditions for those whose surnames begin with the letters A-L begin at 9am sharp next Saturday, and M-Z will follow at 1pm. Call-backs for major parts will be held later that afternoon.

Wear suitable, comfy clothing and bring plenty of water. There is no need to learn an audition piece. There is no charge for auditioning. Audition forms can be downloaded from the theatre website or collected from the theatre and should be brought on audition day or sent to the theatre in advance, accompanied by TWO passport photos. newtheatreoxford.org.uk.