YOUNGSTERS from Bingley’s Lady Lane Park School have been treading the boards at Salts Mill as they staged a 20-minute production detailing children’s lives as they worked in Victorian mills.

The 19 children aged 10 and 11 years showcased the pop-up dance and drama production in Gallery 2 at the mill yesterday.

“We were very excited and thrilled to be invited to perform there,” said headteacher Gill Wilson.

“The drama formed part of the curriculum where the children have been learning all about Saltaire and its heritage and how children were involved in mill working in the Victorian era.

“One occasion involved visiting Saltaire dressed in authentic Victorian costume. We even went on the train to increase the authenticity. The children have been very enthusiastic and it has been wonderful to be able to draw on the area’s fascinating and historic past.

“The play follows a group of children who run away from a mill they are working at in Bradford and are encouraged by their peers to work at Salts Mill where the conditions are much better and where they will be looked after.”

Mrs Wilson said the school had spent some time at Salts Mill learning about its history and also enjoying the David Hockney exhibition where they made drawings for school.

“The production was virtually unscripted with the children improvising their own parts and evolving as they go on. They had been working on it for around two months with help from drama and dance teachers Margaret Cartwright and Jo Hudson.”

Andy Hebditch, assistant gallery manager at Salts Mill added: “It’s been fantastic to have the children here performing their drama though our involvement with the production was simply to offer them the gallery to perform in..

“They visit us many times during the year doing sketches and learning from the history exhibitions

“The pop-up drama was a treat for staff as well as the visitors here at the time.”