A dozen Neale-Wade students are hoping their play about the relationship between teenagers and their parents will lead to a bigger stage.

Cambs Times: Neale-Wade students at the theatreNeale-Wade students at the theatre (Image: Archant)

Students at the March school are crossing their fingers after performing ‘What Are They Like?’ at the Norwich Playhouse.

The performance, carried out by a cast of 12 students from years nine to 13, was watched by a judge who will decide whether the school will have the opportunity to perform the play at the National Theatre in London.

It comes as a result of the National Theatre Connections project, which chooses 500 young theatre companies to perform at professional theatres across the country.

On the day of the performance in Norwich, students took part in workshops at The Garage Theatre before doing a real-life ‘get-in’ – the process of a touring company installing their show into a theatre – at the Norwich Playhouse.

Emma Liversedge, head of drama at Neale-Wade, said: “The experience of performing at a professional theatre was incredible.

“Nerves were high, but the entire cast performed amazingly, really showing themselves and the academy off in a great light.

“The reaction of all members of the audience was brilliant.”

As well as receiving a great reaction from the audience, the cast was praised by the manager of The Garage Theatre said: “The performance showed a great sense of the ensemble of the cast, all supporting each other.”

The National Theatre director/judge added: “It was the best performance the school had done.”

The play, written by Lucinda Coxon, is about the relationship between teenagers and their parents and how issues are often replicated across generations.