Pupils from three primary schools showed off their operatic skills when they rehearsed an opera they had composed themselves.

Diss Mercury: Pupils from three primary schools showed off their operatic skills when they rehearsed an opera they had composed themselves.More than 90 pupils from St Mary’s Primary School at Long Stratton, Pulham Market Primary School and Diss Junior School are taking part in the Norfolk Schools Project, run by Norwich Theatre Royal. The project culminates in a performance on the theatre’s stage on November 9.Pupils from three primary schools showed off their operatic skills when they rehearsed an opera they had composed themselves.More than 90 pupils from St Mary’s Primary School at Long Stratton, Pulham Market Primary School and Diss Junior School are taking part in the Norfolk Schools Project, run by Norwich Theatre Royal. The project culminates in a performance on the theatre’s stage on November 9. (Image: Archant)

More than 90 pupils from St Mary's Primary School at Long Stratton, Pulham Market Primary School and Diss Junior School are taking part in the Norfolk Schools Project, run by Norwich Theatre Royal.

The project culminates in a performance on the theatre's stage on Sunday.

The opera, entitled Stranded, has a storyline and music created by the pupils inspired by the ballet adaptation of William Golding's Lord of the Flies from Matthew Bourne's New Adventures, which runs at the theatre from November 19-22.

The children have been working with a team of professional singers, dancers and drama teachers to write their own mini-productions.

Diss Mercury: Pupils from three primary schools showed off their operatic skills when they rehearsed an opera they had composed themselves.More than 90 pupils from St Mary’s Primary School at Long Stratton, Pulham Market Primary School and Diss Junior School are taking part in the Norfolk Schools Project, run by Norwich Theatre Royal. The project culminates in a performance on the theatre’s stage on November 9.Pupils from three primary schools showed off their operatic skills when they rehearsed an opera they had composed themselves.More than 90 pupils from St Mary’s Primary School at Long Stratton, Pulham Market Primary School and Diss Junior School are taking part in the Norfolk Schools Project, run by Norwich Theatre Royal. The project culminates in a performance on the theatre’s stage on November 9. (Image: Archant)

Each school had worked independently, but came together for the first time at Long Stratton Primary School for a joint rehearsal.

Andrew Hughes, assistant head and Year 6 teacher at St Mary's, where 24 pupils are participating, said: 'It felt very daunting to start off with, but after the first session the children were filled with confidence through the expertise and the enthusiasm of all the people who came to work with us.

'This infectious enthusiasm really got through to them and even those who I thought might struggle with it have really come out of their shell.

It was all child-centred and the compositions and lyrics all came from the children and it has involved lots of different creative activities.'

As part of the project, pupils received a backstage tour with the theatre's technical team, who explained and revealed some of the behind-the-scenes secrets of the theatre, including lighting, wardrobe and props.

The project is delivered free to the participating schools and is run bi-annually by the theatre's education department as part of its work, which includes workshops, question and answer sessions, and work experience placements.

Have you got a school story? Email anthony.carroll@archant.co.uk.