Two Year 8 pupils from Darrick Wood School have taken the prize for 'best dualogue' at a National Performing Shakespeare competition.

Charlie Jones and Zain Naveed beat off competition from hundreds of pupils who submitted videos of themselves performing Shakespearean monologues and duologues via YouTube.

Charlie and Zain were selected for the national final, along with two other Darrick Wood pupils, Eloise Thody and Francesca Amura.

Twenty-four students, selected from the different regions, made it through to the final which was held at Dartmouth House, the English Speaking Union’s London Headquarters in Mayfair.

Pupils spent the morning in workshops run by actors and theatre directors before performing their entries in front of a live audience and judging panel in the afternoon.

Judges described their performance as “original, natural and creative”.

A school spokesman said: “The boys were interviewed on camera after winning and described the day as ‘the best of their life’.

“Charlie and Zain have proven that Shakespeare’s plays can still be modern, relevant and extremely funny.

“Everybody at Darrick Wood is very proud of their achievement.”