FROM dinosaurs and dragons to owls and puppets, next week’s half-term holiday is packed with creative activities.

At Pegasus Theatre in Magdalen Road, East Oxford, touring company State of Emergency will take up residency on Thursday and Friday ahead of a performance on Saturday.

The events mark the opening of the fifth annual Dancin’ Oxford Festival and children with dance experience aged 12 and upwards are invited to create and perform their own pieces of creative dance during the two-day workshop.

Pegasus dance tutor EmJ Greig said: “The Dancin’ Oxford Festival is definitely set to open with a bang at Pegasus. State of Emergency are a wonderfully inspiring company. The two-day residency is really exciting – it’s not often you get to train alongside such phenomenal dancers and then get to perform with them.”

For details and tickets call 01865 812150 or visit pegasustheatre.org.uk On Saturday, State of Emergency will perform Desert Crossing, inspired by the similarities between Britain’s Jurassic Coast and the Skeleton Coast in Namibia.

lMeanwhile, Pitt Rivers Museum and the Oxford University Museum of Natural History have teamed up to offer an exploration of dinosaurs and dragons.

Sessions will run from 1pm until 4pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, giving children the chance to create their own raptors with add-on claws and dinosaur feet.

Would-be dragon slayers can arm themselves with personally designed helmets and shields.

The activities, at the museums in Parks Road, are free. For information visit prm.ox.ac.uk/events.html lThe North Wall Arts Centre in South Parade, Summertown, welcomes renowned puppeteer and storyteller Rod Burnett on Thursday afternoon.

He will bring marionette character Jack and the Beanstalk to life in a 50-minute performance.

Mr Burnett, of Storybox Theatre, said: “With a handful of beans and a heart full of courage, Jack sets off on a tall tale of high adventure.

“This new production remains faithful to the spirit of the original ancient tale – a story of enchantment and magic, of cruelty and humour, of courage and ingenuity, and triumph over gigantic adversity.”

The show, called Jack, begins at 2.30pm and tickets cost £6. For information call 01865 319450 or visit thenorthwall.com l Science Oxford Live, in London Place, East Oxford, is also putting on events for half-term week.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Owls Galore! will feature live birds and expert information from Rod Smallman.

The event, suitable for children over five, costs £5 for non-members and runs at 11am and 2pm each day.

Wallace and Gromit’s World of Invention comes to the museum on Thursday and Friday, but tickets have already been eagerly snapped up for all eight sessions across both days.

For more details, visit scienceoxfordlive.com or call 01865 810000.

Courses to keep youngsters busy during half term will take place at Animation Station, at Chenderit School, in Middleton Cheney.

Four one-day animation workshops run from Monday to Thursday and include flip book, cartoon, plasticine and computer animation.

Each course costs £25 and runs from 9.15am to 3.15pm.

For more information or to book call Animation Station on 01295 711567 extention 264 or you can email animationstation@chenderit.northants.sch.uk or view animationstation.co.uk