Productions at a secondary school will never be the same again now it can boast the latest state-of-the-art theatre equipment.

Parkside Arts College in Cullingworth reckons it can now put on productions worthy of Bradford's Alhambra thanks to £150,000 funding from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES).

The money has come because the school has this year been made a performing arts specialist school.

The cash is the first of four years' funding to improve facilities at the school, which can also be used by the wider community.

Director of Parkside Arts College Mike Fleetwood said: "First and foremost this is going to offer many more opportunities for students involved in the arts."

The equipment includes a new lighting and sound system which can be operated through finger-tip computer technology, a state-of-the-art control room, a communications systems operating between the performers and the crew, retractable seating, recording equipment and an electronically controlled screen for the viewing of filmed footage.

The new technology will be put to the test when the school puts on its annual production in February. Following successful productions including Grease, Jane Eyre and Dracula Spectacular, pupils from the school will be performing Bugsy Malone.

"We had a good reputation for performing arts in the area anyway after the productions we have put on in the past," said Mr Fleetwood.

The school was given performing arts status in February and started as a specialist school from this month.

"From the school's inception in 2000 it was always planned we would go for specialist school status in the performing arts. It's fair to say we got there faster than we planned," said Mr Fleetwood.

"We have got some very good teachers who willingly give up their own time and it's their enthusiasm which fires up the students' enthusiasm. We also have some very talented pupils."

The money will also benefit Parkside's "family" of four primary schools at Denholme, Wilsden, Harden and Cullingworth.

Teachers from the performing arts faculty will be going into the primary schools over the coming year to teach youngsters, and also working with people from a residential home.

The school has also developed strong links with professional bodies such as the Northern Ballet Theatre and the Leeds College of Music.

The Royal Shakespeare Company will be coming to the school for masterclasses with some of the teachers this term.