NEW York in the 1930s will be recreated on the stage of a Brentwood school next week when pupils present their annual musical.
Guys and Dolls, the Broadway hit of the 1950s, is the 2012 offering from Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School, which has proved so popular among the girls that there are two separate casts.
Each will perform on two days of the four-date run, which begins on Monday.
Head of drama at the Queens Road School, Sarah Barton, said: "Last year we staged Hairspray, a modern musical, so this year we decided to go for a more traditional production.
"It has proved to be a huge hit with the students who clamoured for parts, and as we have so many talented girls we thought the best way to include as many students as possible was to have two casts.
"There are a total of 55 girls involved, ranging in age from 11 to 18, and an orchestra of 15 and as we only auditioned in September they have all had to work really hard to make sure the production was ready in time."
The girls gave up two days of their half term to rehearse the show, which will be performed in the evenings from November 12 to 15 for family and friends, and on two matinees for fellow pupils and children from local primary schools.
Nicole Robinson, 17, who is playing female lead Miss Adelaide, said: "I find the whole process of being part of a production quite exciting. You have to commit yourself fully to attend rehearsals which end up being the priority in your life.
"It is a very good way of getting to know pupils from different years who share the same interests."
Lucy Dayson, 11, auditioned and won the part of Harry the Horse.
She said: "Everything is really professional, and completely different to anything I've done in the past. Productions like this one are a good way of meeting pupils in other years, and being a part of something like this makes you have more confidence on stage."
18-year-old Annie Adams, taking part in a school production for the first time, plays male lead Nathan Detroit.
She said: "I am so glad I had the opportunity to be part of such an amazing production and to leave on such a high. Even though the production takes up so much of your time it is definitely worth it and is such a brilliant experience.
"I have got to know so many people, even people in the younger years, which I would not have had a chance to know otherwise. My time at this school has given me the confidence to take part in such a big production."
