ACTORS, musicians and vocalists took to the stage last week to present ‘Friends’ Variety Performance’, a show inspired by the poetry and dramatic works of Ted Hughes.

The senior school students entertained visiting pupils from Katherine Semar and Friends’ Junior School during the matinee performance and went on to perform two evening shows to a delighted audience.

Richard Smith, head of drama at Friends, said: “As a department we chose to focus on Ted Hughes as much of his work deals with the development of the imagination.

Imagination is an essential part of drama and the development of the young person, allowing them to see the world in which they would like to live.”

The concept of imagination was evident throughout the show with the use of puppetry in the main dramatic play, and also the final piece, Richard Smith’s own narrative, Ffang.