MUSICAL youngsters are preparing to hit the stage with their production of West End smash Les Miserables.

King Alfred’s Academy in Wantage is putting on the show at its centre site in Portway from next Wednesday until Saturday, March 17.

Pupils will be singing, acting, playing live music, and coordinating the sound and lighting in the five performances.

Students put on a production of We Will Rock You last year and Return to the Forbidden Planet the year before.

Kitty Speed, 18, who plays Madame Thenardier, said: “I feel it’s the best thing we’ve done so far – it’s been fun but the production also has great depth, set as it is against the background of an interesting historical period.”

Rhona Hecht, 17, who is in the chorus, said: “It’s been really exciting – it’s the first what I would call really established musical we’ve done and it’s been really interesting to be involved.”

During a trip to see the show in London in December, the student cast got a good luck message recorded by Alfie Boe who played the main character Jean Valjean.

The school’s musical director Jennie Baxter said: “Les Miserables is a challenging production to put on but the students have more than risen to the challenge. We are very proud of what we have produced.”

  • For tickets, visit the school’s centre site office or call 01235 225700.