More than 70 students at Litcham High School have taken to the stage in the school's latest production.Following on from the successful stage production and subsequent film A J Raffles and the Museum of Mayhem, students have produced their latest show - Serious Undertakings.

More than 70 students at Litcham High School have taken to the stage in the school's latest production.

Following on from the successful stage production and subsequent film A J Raffles and the Museum of Mayhem, students have produced their latest show - Serious Undertakings.

The story concerns a town with two rival funeral directors.

When there are not enough bodies to go around they take it upon themselves to create their own business. Added to the mix are some naïve campers, a drunken teacher and a camel named Mark.

A 70-strong cast, accompanied by an exuberant 12-piece swing band, played to sell-out audiences each night of the run.

Christian Hemmant was the oily and sinister Kenneth Brighthouse-Williams, while Philippa Cross played his wife with icy disdain.

Rosa Furneaux produced a marvellous comic performance as drama society producer Mrs Stanton Smythe. Max Andersson, Liz Glover, Emily Iles and Charley Nash were spot-on as the intrepid campers who blunder around finding dead bodies at every turn. The image of Max Andersson emerging from a tent wearing only a pink nightie will live long with the audience.

Emily Carter and Hannah Groom gave two fine dramatic performances as tragic singer Callie Hope and matriarchal undertaker Magda Dale.

Amy Woodings was cynicism personified as the jaded reporter given the task of covering the mysterious deaths.

Ben Collins also gave a very strong performance as teacher Roland Bennett, most especially in his drunken monologue where he railed against the pretensions and inadequacies of the local amateur dramatic society.

There was strong singing, accompanied by the band who played from a frequently complex score.