A TEST Valley school has created an eight-part series of interviews, featuring musical theatre stars and actors, for pupils to enjoy amid lockdown.

Embley's Performing Arts departments, Embley Park, contacted a range of people to take part in the filmed interviews after seeing cultural events cancelled across the globe.

Now, pupils are able to find out what it takes to break into one of the most "sought after industries in the world".

A spokesperson from the school said: "The eight-part series featured opera singers James Cleverton and Yvette Bonner; musical theatre stars Ellie Young, who has starred as the White Cat in ‘Cats’, and Leslie Garcia Bowman from the original West End cast of ‘Hamilton’.

"Actors Luke Barton and Philip Tomlin from the cast of ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’; composer Iain Bell; and the series ended with international celebrity cook Donal Skehan.

"Each episode provided our pupils with unique insight into careers in the industry, as well as inspiration and practical advice.

"We also thoroughly enjoyed the anecdotes shared by each interviewee about the behind-the-scenes aspects of one of the most sought after industries in the world."

Alongside the interview series, the Music department were busy keeping pupils singing and playing from home and produced a virtual summer recital, two flute choir collaborations and a staff performance.

The Drama department produced our annual Year 7 and 8 production on film through recorded conference calls and careful editing, the result of which was highly entertaining movies for pupils and their families to enjoy from home. Year 9 pupils created group devised performances through film and took charge of their own editing on top of performing! Our Prep School’s Year 6 production was also filmed and screened for pupils on their final day of term. Popcorn and glamorous attire ensured the pupils felt like film stars!

Additionally, the two departments collaborated on the production of a performance assembly which featured pupils, parents and staff and began rehearsing our forthcoming musical production of ‘Little Shop of Horrors’.