AN ALRESFORD school put on a show-stopping arts extravaganza.

Perins School held a week-long festival where students had the chance to try out a range of events including dance, music, drama and art.

The workshops on offer included a Blood Brothers workshop for Year 10s led by actor Mike Southern who played Sammy for 11 years in the West End production.

Visiting practitioner Nick O’Brien taught Year 9 students about the work of Brecht and Stanislavski.

Younger students enjoyed a Commedia dell’ Arte workshop presented by Learning Through Theatre where they tried out slapstick comedy.

For the musical students there was a samba workshop and in the art rooms there was a competition to have paintings displayed on the school walls.

Year 7s were treated to a visit by librarian Paul Register who enthused students about his love of comic books and manga.

More than 140 pupils also auditioned to perform at the finals evening, where a full house of students, parents and staff turn up to watch a showcase.

The judges chose Sam Booth, 14, as the overall winner, who played a cello piece, ‘Polonaise De Concert’.

The Key Stage 4 winner was Toby Cooper, 15, for his classical vocal solo of ‘The Impossible Dream’ and the Key Stage 3 winner was Lewis Clark, 13, for a solo dance to ‘Tears of an Angel’ by Ryan Dan.

Serge Wynne, 12, won the non-performance award for his painting representing the new school houses.

Teacher Lizzy McLaughlin said: "It was a brilliant evening and the four comperes were outstanding and kept the crowd entertained."

80 pupils from local primary schools also attended a preview show of the finals night.

They had a chance to vote for their favourite acts which were 7th Heaven, made up of Sophie Jarrett, Sasha Wells, Anya Rhodes and Morgan Fereday, for their a cappella performance and Josh Fletcher for his drum solo.

Amy Craig, acting team leader of drama said: "We are so incredibly proud of all our students. The finals night is a fantastic way of letting them shine. The talent is outstanding and the judging panel found it very hard to decide on winners. We look forward to next year already."