PUPILS at Ermysted’s Grammar School, Skipton, are entering the final stages of rehearsals in preparation for their entry into the Shakespeare Schools Festival, the UK’s biggest youth drama event.

The students will perform a 30-minute version of Antony and Cleopatra at the Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds, next Thursday, November 5, at 7pm.

Directed by sixth form students Jonathan Herbert, Sam Burton and Isaac Culshaw, the cast includes Oscar Hazell as Cleopatra, Matthew Paul as Antony, Arjun Patel as Enobarbus and Luca Campagna as Caesar.

The school is continuing Shakespeare’s tradition of having male actors in the female roles.

Jonathan said: “We have boys playing girls in all our other drama events so thought we might as well continue the bard’s tradition and let the students get good use out of their frocks.”

Tom Hodgson, of the English department, added: “This is my tenth year of taking part in the festival and every year it gives the boys a chance to grow in confidence and engage with our country’s cultural heritage.”

They will perform the play alongside three other schools and tickets can be purchased from the theatre box office on 0113 224 3801.