PERINS’ creative arts department and Perins Youth Theatre at Alresford have combined forces this year to stage the most ambitious production the school has ever attempted.

To be staged over six nights, from July 9-14, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast will involve a cast, orchestra and backstage crew of up of 130 Perins students, and the building of a temporary 400-seat theatre in the grounds.

Even more of a coup, Perins School Theatre has been granted the only Disney-approved set and costumes in the country.

The same scenery has previously featured at the Mayflower (in Southampton) and is guaranteed to give the ‘wow’ factor while providing Perins students with a taste of life as a professional actor.

To help stage the show, Perins has welcomed back M3 Productions, a professional Stage Production company who have worked tirelessly to organise the logistics of building a theatre of this size on school premises.

They will also be responsible for all technical aspects of the production including the lighting, sound and pyrotechnics.

Marilista Alexiou, director of creative arts, said: “Perins School is proud to offer its students a rich and expansive range of extra-curricular activities. Where budgets have been cut in other schools, Perins is actively bucking this trend and investing in these opportunities to enrich student’s experiences in their school life.

“As a school, Perins considers this vital to creating rounded students, able to succeed in life and work.”

The school has produced a Youtube video to promote Beauty and the Beast, filmed at various locations within the town.

Tickets for Beauty and the Beast are now available online at theperinstheatre.co.uk.