ENJOY five live performances in five different villages over half-term week.

Two professional children’s theatre companies are heading to Dorset to tour with Artsreach. There will also be the opportunity to step aboard the Story Boat in two of Dorset’s libraries

Tall Tree Theatre return following their acclaimed tour of Shackleton to share a tale of wild weather, wild birds and wild ambitions, Lily & the Albatross.

Far out in the wild and remote ocean is a small family on an old fishing boat, and a young girl called Lily who longs for more; more freedom, more excitement and more time out at sea, but her dreams are just out of reach. Then one day a very special bird flies in from across the water and makes Lily question everything, giving her the nudge she needs to truly stretch her wings. When the whipping wind threatens their little world, the family must pull together, take a leap of faith and look beyond what they have always known to get themselves and the great old boat moving again. Lily & the Albatross is a heartfelt tale about achieving the unachievable and never letting go of your childhood dreams. See this delightful show in Buckland Newton (01300 345455) today (23) and Bourton (01747 840057) tomorrow (24).

Meanwhile, one of Scotland’s leading touring puppet companies, Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre, head to Dorset for their Artsreach debut; hunting for clues about the past, the Dinosaur Detectives discover a secret doorway and a number of cases that contain the stories of the people who discovered dinosaur bones in Victorian times. Join them on a fascinating journey delving in to the stories of the first fossil finds of Mary Anning, William Buckland and Gideon Mantell, finds which changed the face of history. Featuring puppets, shadow play and projections, Dinosaur Detectives is packed with all the fascination, fun and conflict that surrounds the search for dinosaurs, and children can get hands-on at the fossil table after the show! Join the Dinosaur Detectives in Toller Porcorum (01300 320373) tomorrow (24) Morden (01929 459431) on Thursday and Nether Compton (01935 413220) on Friday.

Finally, children can venture inside the magical enchanting space of the Story Boat when it arrives in Gillingham Library today and Weymouth Library on Thursday. This miniature world of the sea is made from an upturned Dorset Fishing Boat from 1923. Hear the story of the motherboat ‘Vera’ and tales of the mysterious memory objects housed inside her, then try your hand at boatbuilding with the riveting of a miniature Story Boat plank. Places are limited so booking is advised.

See artsreach.co.uk for more information.