Deer Park students tread the boards (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Deer Park students tread the boards

Rehearsals are nearly over for Oliver!, Deer Park's epic musical production which takes to the stage next week.

Over one hundred and fifty pupils will take part in the show, which Sally Groves, Head of Expressive Arts, promises will be a "unique experience for both the cast and audience".

Max Woodall, in his first year at the school, was chosen to play Oliver: "It's been tiring to rehearse but I'm really looking forward to my parents enjoying the show."

All of the students stressed how preparing for the show was great fun. Alice Nelson has juggled playing Nancy with preparing for her GCSEs, but says she's been helped by the school.

She said: "It's been great because the teachers have treated us like professionals, not as kids."

The orchestra is composed almost entirely of schoolchildren, despite a challenging musical score.

Jack Champion who plays bass clarinet says it's sounding great and is a nice opportunity to fit around his schoolwork.

Very few of the cast have been in shows before, but Sally Groves says this has made Oliver even more special.

She said: "The Arts faculty works with a philosophy of 'Arts For All' and this show is testament to that. Anyone who wanted to be involved could join in and we only auditioned for a small number of the lead roles.

"About 98% of the show has been student-led - it's difficult to describe the buzz the children will get when they finish rehearsing and perform on stage."

The production, the largest the school has performed, takes place from the April 20 to 22.