Two contrasting and impressive exam performances by Upper Sixth A level Drama students switched from small-town rural Ireland to the glitzy and flawed world of showbusiness.

Ellie-Mae Rooke, Ruby Stainforth, Poppy Young and Hannah East portrayed a terrific range of characters in a section from Dancing at Lughnasa, Brian Friel’s play set in County Donegal, Ulster, in 1936.

The play’s sisters, who are all unmarried and live together in poverty, consider going to the harvest dance at a time of reflection about their unfulfilled lives – which is punctuated by sudden outbursts of wild dancing.

The second performance was the students’ own creation and highly topical: the growth of the #MeToo movement and the accusations against Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein.

Alan Heaven, Head of Drama and Theatre Studies, said: “Ellie-Mae, Ruby, Poppy and Hannah gave superb, energising and energetic performances played against projections of edited news feeds and images which thrilled their audiences.

“The vibrant costumes of Xylia Milsom (including the four black dresses seen in the photograph) added greatly to the powerful atmosphere.”

He added: “It was a triumphant event… congratulations to all involved on two superb exam performances.”