As the curtain went down on a successful summer term’s literacy work, a curtain went up on a Shakespeare extravaganza at Great Sampford Primary School.

According to Headteacher Ian Pollard, the Year 5 and 6 pupils literally bought the house down when they put on their very own version of Romeo and Juliet.

“Parents were enthralled from the opening lines ‘Two house, both alike in dignity...’ until the final tragic speech by the Prince, ‘Never was there a tale of more woe...,” Mr Pollard said. “I am, quite literally, in awe of the children’s acting abilities. Every single child in our top class had a speaking part and delivered their lines with both passion and understanding.

“After the show I had parents come up to me to say how impressed they were and that they wished Shakespeare had been introduced to them like that when they were younger...it was such fun.”

The script was re-worked from the original by class teacher Mr Williamson together with Mr Pollard. They took all of the key speeches and wove them into the abridged version adding 1950s songs and humorous touches.

Mr Williamson said: “I was nervous about tackling such a huge play however, the children more than rose to the challenge. It just goes to show that you can never underestimate the children’s abilities to engage with what many would consider to be a demanding text even for an adult.”