LOCAL students will play a starring role in a production of Rumpelstiltskin with the Oxford Playhouse.

West Oxford Community Primary School pupils were put through their paces by dance theatre company balletLORENT.

A number of students who proved they had the best rhythm to put on a perfect performance at the Playhouse were asked to join the production.

Ten children, aged between four and seven, from the creative workshops held at the school in Ferry Hinksey Road will join the cast for performances on June 1 and 2.

The school also invited four older people, age 65 and over, to take part after hosting workshops at the Oxford Playhouse.

Company founder Liv Lorent said: “The children and older people who feature in our production of Rumpelstiltskin add an authenticity to the fairytale world we are creating.

“The wide age span of these guest performers comes closer to the reality of the communities we all inhabit.

“The children bring their own dynamic physicality, and the older cast are all dexterous knitters.”

Teachers from the dance school rallied the troupe to host a number of workshops at the school where children had a taste of what it takes to be part of the theatre industry.

The dance school has previously staged Rapunzel in 2013 and Snow White in 2016, and Rumpelstiltskin is the final part of the trilogy of Brothers Grimm stories.

Pupils will be plunged into a rural world of sheep, straw, wool and spinning where the alchemist Rumpelstiltskin is an outcast until he is revealed to be ‘the true prince’.

It is billed as ‘dance theatre for 21st century audiences’.

The performance will be staged by eight world-class professionals who range from age 22 to 54-years-old.

Oxfordshire’s intergenerational community cast, made up of both youngsters from age four and the elderly aged over 65 from across the city.

They were selected through balletLORENT workshops held on Friday, May 18.

Ms Lorent added: “The children bring their own dynamic physicality, and the older cast are all dexterous knitters. We have found that our community casts share their creativity with us with great generosity and have enhanced our work with their individuality.’

The score has been created by the composer of Doctor Who Murray Gold, costumes designed by Games of Thrones and The Crown designer Michele Clapton and narration from Games of Thrones colleague actor Ben Crompton.

The performances are from 7pm in the evenings and there will also be a show at 2pm on Saturday, with a guidance for people age seven or above.

Tickets for the Oxford Playhouse performance on June 1 and 2 start at £10 and will be available from the ticket office on 01865 305305.

Tickets can also be booked online at oxfordplayhouse.com