Join masterclasses, talks and workshops by Mike Leigh, Willy Russell, Mark Ravenhill, Alan Ayckbourn, Frantic Assembly and Ian McMillan at this year’s National Student Drama Festival on April 9-16, at venues across Scarborough. You can also check out 140 productions made by students and young people from around Britain. Open to all. Info: 01723 501106; www.nsdf.org.uk.

What shall we do with a drunken sailor?

Learn to raise an anchor, fire a canon and practise gruesome emergency surgery at living history drama workshops for six to 12-year-olds on board the “Golden Hinde” this Easter. Dress in Tudor sailing clothes and be prepared to keel-haul your fellow ratings if they show signs of mutiny.

The life-sized reconstruction of Sir Francis Drake’s famous ship moored by the Thames at Southwark is also host to storytelling sessions for five to nine-year-olds. On Easter Sunday, follow clues to a treasure chest full of Easter eggs. Booking essential. Tel: 0870 0118700; www.goldenhinde.co.uk.

Yorkshire tales

Let Yorkshire storytellers entrance your five to 10-year-olds every Saturday afternoon at 2pm from April 19 to May 24, using words, puppetry and song. Truck Tales is at Hull Truck Theatre, Hull. Info: 01482 323638.

Hear this

Listen out for the Reith Lectures on BBC Radio 4 from Wednesday, April 2 (8.15-8.45pm, repeated on Saturdays from April 5, 10.15-11pm). Leading neuroscientist Professor VS Ramachandran delivers this year’s five lectures on the subject of “The Emerging Mind”, using case studies to discuss whether the structure of the brain might determine such abstract concepts as consciousness, beauty and appreciation of art.