Eight students from a Dereham school have been picked from hundreds to represent the eastern region in a performance of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream in Stratford.

Eight students from a Dereham school have been picked from hundreds to represent the eastern region in a performance of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream in Stratford.

The eight boys, aged 13 to 16, are all from Fred Nicholson School, a special school in Dereham.

They were picked after wowing members of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) when they took part in a Shakespeare festival at Northgate High School in the town.

They out on an interpretation of A Midsummer Night's Dream called Blame it on Bottom, focussing on bullying and the supernatural and the Jeremy Kyle Show.

Rebecca Gould, director of learning and performance for the RSC, said: “There was a brilliant selection of plays at the festival and the choice of who was going to come was very difficult.

“But they have got some great actors and it is a great chance for them to perform.”

Tom List, 15, Tom Meredith, 15, Tommy Smith, 14, Sam Morling, 15, Sam Middleton, 15, Kalid Elghadban, 15, Matthew Seven, 15 and Liam Copeman, 13, will take to the stage at Stratford-upon-Avon's Courtyard Theatre, the home of the RSC, on June 29 and 30.

Liam and Tom Meredith will then go on a two week RSC summer school, where they will form a youth ensemble performing the play.

Sandra Money, drama teacher at the school, said the boys had a diverse range of complex needs but they came through against other mainstream schools.

“It has made it a big challenge but we are incredibly proud of them. All eight boys really deserve it.”

Liam, who will be 14 on Sunday, said he was looking forward to performing A Midsummer Night's Dream with about 20 other children from other schools.

He will be playing Tom Snout the Tinker. “I love drama, I was picked because I was a good actor and had good confidence.

“It has helped with my confidence and I like working as a group.”