A FOREST school is bringing a play to the stage for the first time in many years.

This week’s production of Blood Brothers is the first time a ’straight’ play – as opposed to a musical – has been performed at Wyedean School in Sedbury.

The cast of 30 has been in rehearsal for six months and had its dress rehearsal on Monday in front of an audience of pupils from Offa’s Mead Academy in Sedbury and Lydney Church of England Primary School.

They have been supported by a crew of 20 pupils who have taken on the technical roles.

Although the Willy Russell’s show, which opened last night (Tuesday) and runs until tomorrow, is usually performed as a musical, Wyedean has chosen a more ’naturalistic’ style.

Director and drama teacher Sara Greener said: “Schools often choose musicals as their annual production but we felt it was also important to give keen actors a chance to really challenge themselves with characterisation.

“Blood Brothers is really a political play – a contemporary  nature versus nurture  story, revolving around  twins, Mickey and Eddie, who were separated at birth. One is raised in a wealthy family while the other is brought up in poverty with his natural family.”

The story originally spans 30 years and in the Wyedean production, the characters are depicted by a junior cast, made up of Years Seven to Nine and a senior cast of Years Nine to 12, giving younger actors the chance to take on the challenging lead roles.

Ms Greener said: “It has been great fun to explore the play with students from a wide range of age groups at lunchtime rehearsals and also to teach the technical aspects of theatre production to those who would not often have a chance to develop those skills.”

•See this week’s Review for more photographs.