Aspiring Shakespearian actors have impressed judges and staff with a re-telling of Twelfth Night.

Pupils in Year 8 and 9 from Bancroft’s School in Woodford Green appeared in a 30-minute adaptation of the romantic play as part of the Shakespeare Schools Festival in the Queen’s Theatre in Hornchurch.

There were performances by three other schools who put on Hamlet, Macbeth and The Tempest.

The festival gave all the children the chance to experience performing in a professional theatre and be evaluated by the principal director of the Queen’s Theatre.

Deputy Head of Bancroft's Marwan Mikdadi called the portrayal 'magnificent'.

He said: “The performances were outstanding, the audience was immediately fixated, with the ensemble playing their part to support the great work of the main performers.

“Kyril Yeremenko played the role of Toby Belch with such aplomb, that he had the audience in stitches throughout.”