Erith Playhouse has a number of activities for children throughout the year. The main initiative is our 'KATTS' club for kids to get involved in all aspects of theatre on a Saturday morning. Heres is more about the club from its creator, Keith Jarman ....

Hi, I am Keith Jarman from Erith Playhouse, and I am the leader of the KATTS Club.

The name stands for Kids At The Theatre on Saturdays. The age range is from 10 to 16. Those younger may not understand the ideas and language of teenagers, and parents may find it hard to explain.

The objective is to introduce young people to the live theatre through performance, practice, construction and decoration.

I started the club in 1990 when my daughter was pestering me to be able to go where mummy and daddy went. She was 10. She is now 26 and has undertaken her 1st show as a director, having acted in over 20 shows in her young career and has written the 2006 pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk. Others have appeared in over 15 shows at the Playhouse. Indeed 8 out of the 32 people involved in the 2001 production of Terry Pratchett’s 'Carpe Jugulum' were or had been members of KATTS.

I do not aim to produce budding stars. Just young people who will carry on the community theatre that I have enjoyed at The Playhouse for over 40 years.

The club operates in term times on Saturday mornings between 10.00 am and 12.00 PM, and has an attendance of between 20 and 30 youngsters.

By use of theatre games and improvisations I try to teach the mechanics of theatre and to stimulate the minds of the attendees into researching their world and having an open mind about that which surrounds them.

My motive is a selfish one. I want to introduce kids to the theatre, and hope that as young adults they will become members of our theatre and so perpetuate it. The Playhouse is a great institution which has given me tremendous pleasure over the years, and one that I want to see continuing into the future. To do this we need a continual stream of young talented actors and technicians. At the age of 61, I cannot be considered as a juvenile lead any more.

The fees are £7.50 per year, the standard membership fee for under 18 year olds.

Please contact Keith Jarman if you would like further information.