Since 1992, Theatretrain has pursued two aims with a passion: To provide high quality training for young people in the performing arts and to offer first-class opportunities to perform in local and national theatres. We are passionate about the performing arts. They help us express emotions, hopes, fears and dreams and offer a model of the world in which young people develop essential skills for coping with life.

Young people enjoy working together, have energy and possess imaginative insights surprising to adults. All they lack is experience. Our training provides that experience and the skills to benefit from it. Being part of a team helps them become more aware and learn to respect themselves and others. Performing together improves social skills and by learning self-expression, they come to understand themselves better and grow in confidence. Of course, it’s also amazingly good fun!

We hold weekly classes in comfortable, well equipped facilities, teaching a wide range of skills in acting, singing and dancing, tailored to 6-9, 9-12 and 13-18 year olds. Through a specially created curriculum, our classes develop an understanding of how theatre works – the importance of storytelling, sound, movement and character. We make exciting and challenging theatre by working as a group. And of course many of these skills are important life skills. The quality of our teaching staff is important to us. They are chosen for their experience and enthusiasm so that they inspire our pupils. Most of our teachers are or have been performers and with the centre manager create the buzz of activity and enthusiasm that is the Theatretrain style.

Theatretrain hold classes on a Saturday morning in Ryde between 10.00 and 1pm.  Telephone 248844 or www.theatretrain.co.uk

There’s more to Action Stations than you think…

Action Stations at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is now offering special interest tours focusing on the fascinating history of the historic building, Boathouse No. 6.

Lasting approximately two hours, the tours focus on the history of Boathouse No.6, from construction in 1848 until the installation of the present Action Stations attraction in 2001.

Boathouse 6 was designed by Lieutenant Roger Beatson, Royal Engineers, Portsmouth Dockyard’s Superintendent of Civil Engineering Work, and built between 1845 and 1848. It was used for the building, repair and storage of small ships’ boats. These were pulled up one of the three slipways outside the front of the building from the Mast Pond by hand using block and tackle, and then brought into the building through large wooden doors. Some of the rings used still survive along the front of the building and set into the ground floor. The building was in use as a boathouse until the Portsmouth Blitz in March 1941, when a bomb destroyed much of the rear part. A temporary patch was added to make the building serviceable and was not replaced until the conversion into Action Stations in the late 1990s.

All this history and more can be seen throughout the building and this specialist tour will encourage visitors to view Action Stations in a way they have never done before. They may also discover that walls really can talk and tell their own unique story…

Tours will begin in either Boathouse No.7 or the Mezzanine Café with a complimentary tea or coffee upon arrival before a guided tour of the building.

Special interest tours are priced at £7.50 per person (4-10 people) and £5.50 per person (11+ people). Alternatively, if looking for something a little more special, then Action Stations can provide exclusive evening tours at £10.50 per person, giving private access to the building after normal opening hours. All tours are a minimum of 4 people per tour and include entry to the Action Stations attraction.

Please note all tours must be booked a minimum of 72 hours in advance.

Some areas within the tour are not accessible by a lift.

For further details on the specialist tours or to book please contact the Action Stations Operations Manager on: (023) 9289 3318 or email: enquiries@actionstations.org

Also available at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is the world famous HMS Victory, one of the UK’s leading maritime museums – the National Museum of the Royal Navy, HMS Warrior 1860 – the first iron-hulled ship powered by steam and sail, the Mary Rose Museum[i] and a Harbour Tour. For further details, please contact 023 9283 9766 or visit the website www.historicdockyard.co.uk.

ZUMBATOMIC KIDS GET FIT, ROCK OUT AND HAVE A BLAST.

Zumbatomic® classes are high-energy fitness-parties that offer real results. Packed with specially choreographed routines and the latest music, like hip-hop, reggaeton and cumbia, Zumbatomic classes increase focus and self-confidence, boost metabolism and improve coordination. More than just a great reason to head to the gym, Zumbatomic classes make getting fit a fun family experience too. Join Tiffany to have a fun filled half hour class either at :-

Sandown Youth centre ( youth club )

Mondays

3.30-4pm

4-4.30pm

Or at

St John’s church ( the Beverley community hall)

Thursdays

3.15-3.45pm

3.45-4.14pm

Adult zumba classes and ‘mens only’ classes available call for details Contact Tiffany on 07810544577 tiffwightzumba@hotmail.co.uk

Zumbatomic parties can also arranged

Pamela’s Swimming School is a friendly, well established swimming school with an excellent reputation for delivering high quality lessons that see children gain in confidence and ability.Class sizes are small, typically between 4 and 6 children, and lessons run for half an hour. All teachers are experienced and fully qualified to ASA Level 2. One to one lessons for children and adults are also available – please enquire.All swimmers progress by ability rather than age and the approach is one that mixes teaching with fun activities, particularly among the younger pupils.We are an Amateur Swimming Association school and pupils are encouraged by gaining the Amateur Swimming Association’s National Plan awards. We teach all four strokes, personal survival and a wide range of water skills from non-swimmer to advanced.We offer lessons after school on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at the UKSA pool in Cowes. Please enquire about session times. For more information and to talk through your child’s swimming needs, please contact Pamela Ainslie on 01983 294014 or 07732 641125. References and testimonials are available on request.

2 Family Tickets to be won for the  ‘Santa Special’ at Isle of Wight Steam Railway

Soak up the festive atmosphere at Havenstreet Station with a visit to Santa. Stroll through the sparkling Winter Wonderland before meeting Santa who’ll have a  gift for every child. Settle back and relax with a cosy ride on the steam train through the Island’s winter country side, and enjoy free entertainment for the children.With seasonal fayre in the Refreshment Rooms and a shop packed with Christmas gift ideas, a visit to Santa at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway is a very special day out for all the family. Santa Specials - 3^rd, 4^th, 10^th, 11^th, 17^th, 18^th, 21^st, 22^nd, 23^rd, & 24^th December

For full details please contact: 01983 882204 www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk

To win a  family tickets simply answer the following question:

Q. What is the first and last date of the Santa Specials ?

Please remember only one entry per child is permitted .By the 13 th December. You can enter the competition if you visit www.thefamilydirectory.co.uk All winners will be notified by phone and by post. If you enter the competition your details will not be passed on.

Pamela’s Swimming School is a friendly, well established swimming school with an excellent reputation for delivering high quality lessons that see children gain in confidence and ability. Class sizes are small, typically between 4 and 6 children, and lessons run for half an hour. All teachers are experienced and fully qualified to ASA Level 2. One to one lessons for children and adults are also available – please enquire. All swimmers progress by ability rather than age and the approach is one that mixes teaching with fun activities, particularly among the younger pupils. We are an Amateur Swimming Association school and pupils are encouraged by gaining the Amateur Swimming Association’s National Plan awards.

We teach all four strokes, personal survival and a wide range of water skills from non-swimmer to advanced.We offer lessons after school on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at the UKSA pool in Cowes. Please enquire about session times.For more information and to talk through your child’s swimming needs, please contact Pamela Ainslie on 01983 294014 or 07732 641125.

References and testimonials are available on request.

Water Babies who have been awarded 5 national awards for their teaching and lessons are delighted that more and more babies on the Isle of Wight are swimming in the Water Babies programme. Not only are our Instructors the most highly trained swimming teachers they are also the epitome of calm and know how to have fun in the water. Jo Hobbs the one and only brilliant Isle of Wight Water Babies Instructor qualified in September and has completed over 150 hours of training and assessments and just loves her job.

Jo Says“I was that impressed with the lessons that I have taken both my children Imogen and Joshua to the mainland for their Water Babies lessons for the last 4 years. I am now extremely excited to have become the first Isle of Wight Water Babies instructor”

With over 50 Water Babies already learning to swim in Cowes and Freshwater Jo is  over the moon to be able to, in true Water Babies style “teach all of the parents to teach their babies to swim”.

The Isle of Wight Karate and Self Defence club offers a wide range of classes for boys and girls. The beginner classes are designed to teach children simple discipline and karate skills.

The weekly junior beginner classes (from 6 years old) are held every Tuesday 6-7pm and Saturday 10-11am or (from 13 years old) every Tuesday 7-8pm and Thursday 8-9pm at the Fitness Factory in Newport.

Alternatively, they also run classes on a Wednesday at the West Wight Sports Centre in Freshwater between 7-8pm in the evening. In order for beginners to try the classes the club offers the first session for FREE.

Please email Mark at Sensei@onwight.net for a free trail voucher or for more details, please visit the website www.isleofwightkarate.co.uk. Join the club on Facebook and please don’t forget to tell your friends and family www.facebook.com/IsleofWightKarate.

AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust Program manager Paul Topping has been successfully running his soccer schools and camps on the Island for the past year.  In this time he and his group of qualified coaches have, and continue to work with hundreds of Island children, improving football skills and increasing enjoyment of the game.  With sessions running Island wide on every day of the week Paul offers a wide range of opportunities for children to get involved.  If your son or daughter would like to be a part of this fun football community then please contact Paul on 07514801968/paul.topping@afcb-iow.co.uk or visit www.afcb-iow.co.uk for further info