Last updated at 14:19, Saturday, 03 September 2011

SIX youngsters are to perform at a prestigious London festival in a play specially written by the lead singer and songwriter with rock legends The Kinks.

TAKING TO THE STAGE: Students from John Ruskin School in Coniston are to perform at a prestigious London festival. Pictured are, back row left to right, Bobby Gard-Storry, David Bishop-Miller and Vincent Teetsov, and front row left to right, Holly Clarke, Hannah Oliver, Rose Yates MARIA BENJAMIN

The 16-year-olds, who left John Ruskin School. Coniston, this summer, will perform tomorrow at the Royal Festival Hall on the closing day of the Festival of Britain 60th anniversary celebrations.

They will act out Child’s Play, which has been written by Ray Davies CBE.

Lake District-based arts organisation, Grizedale Arts, was commissioned to produce a piece for the famous festival and approached The Kinks front man.

Mr Davies, who penned classics such as You Really Got Me and All day and all of the night, conjured up Child’s Play, which charts the lives of three Coniston couples.

The play features live music, also written by Mr Davies, and is a commentary on the aspirations and disappointments through the decades of modern Britain since the first Festival of Britain in 1951.

The parts will be played by Bobby Gard-Storry, David Bishop-Miller, Vincent Teetsov, Hannah Oliver, Holly Clarke and Rose Yates.

The youngsters have met Mr Davies, who is curator of the festival, and travelled to London yesterday ahead of the show on the venue’s roof-top garden terrace.

Alistair Hudson, Grizedale Arts deputy director, said: “They are really good – they’re fantastic actors. They’ve got real talent.

“It’s an amazing opportunity. They’re getting to work with Ray Davies and it’s quite a difficult challenge – it’s a little more than a typical school play.

“There is some quite adult subject matter and it’s an opportunity you wouldn’t get in regular school life.

“It’s new material that’s not been done before, so there has been the whole process of Ray re-writing bits and changing things, which you don’t normally get in a school play.”

The play has been directed by former John Ruskin pupil Russell Peat and Mr Hudson hopes a date could be organised for a performance in Coniston Institute.

Gill Sharp, head of expressive arts at John Ruskin School, said: “It has been a super community project and a great opportunity to do an unusual and special project out of school.

“The students and Russell deserve praise for their work so far. I wish them a happy and successful time in London.”

First published at 10:34, Saturday, 03 September 2011
Published by http://www.walneylocal.co.uk