YEAR 5 AND 6 pupils at Nightingale Primary School, South Woodford, displayed their acting talent by taking part in the production Reasons Behind the Rhymes last week.

The production, a collection of six plays, was based on popular poems including The Highwaymen, Ozymandias of Egypt and The Owl and the Pussy Cat.

Each play contained a choreographed dance, with children at the Ashbourne Avenue school entertaining the visiting parents.

Arts and drama co-ordinator Claire Holland said: "I'm really seeing the benefits of raising the profile of performing arts.

"The children were completely focused on the production, even though they were less than two weeks before the end of term."

She added: "I'm proud of the efforts put in by all the 180 pupils who took part in the production and the teachers."

July 12, 2002 15:00