Young performers have been enjoying final rehearsals as they get ready for their big moment on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company next week.
About 30 young people from Sprowston Community High School have been picked to appear in the Norwich performances of the RSC's touring production of A Midsummer Night's Dream: A Play for the Nation which is marking the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death.
The comedy opens at Norwich Theatre Royal next Tuesday and the pupils will take on the role of Queen Titania's Fairy Train in the tale of love, magic and mischief.
Yesterday they were joined by RSC practitioners for rehearsals.
Anna Lawrence, head of drama at Sprowston Community High School, said: 'The students have done brilliantly. We have had three days working with the RSC this week. There have been a lot of adults in the room and the students have really risen to the occasion. They have learned their songs, their dancing, and the bit of Shakespeare that they have to perform. We are really, really proud of them.'
She added that being involved in the show was a wonderful opportunity for the young people.
'Going on the Theatre Royal stage will be fantastic but also to perform with one of the biggest theatre companies in Britain will be amazing,' she said.
Among the pupils who will be performing in the show will be 12-year-old Georgina-Louise King.
She said: 'The rehearsals have been interesting and fun as well. My favourite part is the dance part of it.
'There have been some challenges and the coming week is going to be very tiring. I think it is going to be really fun. I might be a bit nervous but I think it will be a great experience.'
Fellow pupil Aaron Ford, 12, said it had been interesting learning about the language of Shakespeare and that it was going to be great acting with the RSC.
'Come and see A Midsummer Night's Dream. It will be a good play and I wish I could be out there watching it as well,' he said.
Adele Pretamaxia, 12, added that it was an amazing experience being involved in the show.
'I am a bit worried about stage-fright but I am also really happy to be involved too,' she said.
Members of Norwich-based theatre company The Common Lot will also performing in the production of A Midsummer Night's Dream: A Play for the Nation. They will be playing the Mechanicals – a bunch of craftsmen and hapless amateur actors hoping to entertain royalty.
The show will be in Norwich from April 26 to 30. See www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk for details.
Do you have a Norwich arts story? Email arts correspondent Emma Knights at emma.knights@archant.co.uk
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