PUPILS at a sixth form in Brimsham Green have blown audiences away with a “breathtaking” rendition of Les Misérables.

More than 100 pupils from the Cotswold Edge Centre Sixth Form worked to bring the internationally acclaimed play, depicting the struggles of the people during the French Revolution, to life. Not an easy feat with the show having wowed audiences across the world on stage and screen.

The sixth form is a collaborative effort between Brimsham Green School, Chipping Sodbury School and Yate International Academy, and Katie Hitchcock, head of drama at Brimsham Green, who ran the production said that, everyone who auditioned was “exceptional” and “professional” in their approach, making casting tough!

“We have built up a reputation for high quality over the last seven years, developing a reputation for professional standard productions,” she said. “We are perfectionists.

“People come and see the shows, even though they haven’t got kids at the school.”

More than 200 pupils packed in to watch the premier on Thursday, February 1, and Ms Hitchcock said that for two entire hours “you could’ve heard a pin drop”.

“They were mesmerised,” she said. “Everyone was asking to be in the next production after that.”

Performances lasted three days, with audiences exclaiming afterwards on how much they enjoyed the show and were impressed the high standard.

Saying how fortunate she felt to bring her dream production to the stage with such a talented cast and crew, Ms Hitchcock said: “It has been a lot of hard work. 15 months planning, five months of rehearsals. It was a big effort, but very enjoyable.

“We’re living in times when art subjects are devalued in schools, but that isn’t the case at Brimsham Green. We’ve been all given the time we needed to rehearse.

“The youngsters are all so very talented. We had two female singers to play Éponine, alternating each show because we couldn’t choose between them. The band were incredible, all performing live with pretty much no rest.

“Everyone was just exceptional from start to finish. I am so proud of them.”