YORK actress Gemma Sharp has been inspired to set up children’s storytelling classes by the birth of her daughter, Beatrice.

Hoglets: Theatre Fun for Little Folks is a spin-off from Gemma and partner Andy Curry’s company, Hedgepig Theatre.

“Hedgepig has always been a family company and, since becoming a mother, I wanted to develop something that would include my daughter in that world,” says company co-founder Gemma.

“I really wanted to use my experience as an actor to work with parents using techniques – storytelling and puppetry – as a way of nurturing their infants’ language and social development.”

Starting this month, Hoglets is running weekly storytelling classes for babies, children under four and their parents and carers, using drama skills to bring story-time to life, explains Gemma.

“Classes are hugely interactive and energetic and introduce drama performance techniques such as shadow puppets, character voices, physicality, masks and songs to the telling of tales – and they also cover creating characters and creating your own stories and lots more.”

Each class begins with a story performed by Gemma’s Mama Hoglet, followed by fun games, songs, craft and advice on the methods used and how parents can take them home and make them their own.

Classes for children aged four months to two years old will take place every Monday at 1.30pm at Clifton Children’s Centre and every Tuesday, 9.30am, Knavesmire Children’s Centre, and 12.30pm, Hobmoor Children’s Centre.

Children aged two to four years old can attend each Tuesday at 10.30am at Knavesmire and 1.45pm at Hobmoor.

• Places can be booked by emailing Hoglets at gemma@hoglets.org.uk or by phoning 07508 672163. Each session costs £3.50 per child, with a parent in attendance, and £1.50 for each additional child. Visit hoglets.org.uk for all dates, venues and more information.