Canterbury’s first Children’s Festival is being launched this week.

The city’s Marlowe Theatre and Beaney Museum have joined forces for the event, which will see shows in the Marlowe Studio, interactive craft and storytelling workshops at the Beaney, and free activities at both venues.

Highlights of the four-day festival include Hiccup Theatre’s retelling of the classic tale Rumpelstiltskin with a corresponding workshop where children can “spin straw into gold”.

There will also be a comedy club for kids, and puppet making workshop.

Free events include the chance to meet the author of the books about the gruesome Mr and Mrs Grunt.

The Marlowe’s head of creative projects, Danny Lipman, said: “We want to show children that theatres and museums aren’t boring places you get dragged along to by school, but actually places where you can play and have a good time.”

It runs from Tuesday, May 28 to Friday, May 31.

For details or to book call 01227 787787 or visit www.marlowetheatre.com