THE Edinburgh Fringe sell-out show In Tents & Purposes by Viscera Theatre went down a storm at Commonweal C6 .

Drama students from across the borough were invited to watch the hour long show which tells the story of two friends Libby (Roxy Dunn) and Sam (Alys Metcalf) who at a music festival compete with their egos to tell a comic, time-hopping story, exploring whether our lives are predetermined or shaped by our choices.

The visiting actors were invited to the school by Headteacher Keith Defter after he was wowed by them at the Fringe earlier this year.

“The students gained an insight into devising script work using Brecht and Meta-analysis of the performance,” said Heather Birkbeck, Head of Drama at Commonweal.

“ Headteacher Keith Defter led the afternoon Q&A session and there were many well thought out questions around acting techniques and how to get into the industry. Feedback was really inspiring and encouraged our talented sixth formers to go on and perform in the Edinburgh Fringe in the future.

"We were so impressed by the questions the students asked after the show, they are clearly bright and enthusiastic about the performing arts. Their comedy performances were also very amusing and I'm sure they have bright futures ahead of them," said Alys.

"We were made to feel so welcome and had a great time performing in the very well-equipped and professional theatre.”

The performance was followed in the evening with a series of comedy shorts by GCSE and A level Drama students. Harry Humphries and Tom Newton, both aged 16, performed an extract from The Zoo Story which was part of their GCSE practical. Emma Skane –Lawrence, Emma Booth, Rachel Winney, Eve Batten, Charlotte Delfino performed a piece from Playhouse Creatures which had the audience in stitches and Ollie Humphries, age 18, entertained with a heartfelt extract from the History Boys.

From start to finish Roxy and Alys led a fast paced performance that had the audience in stitches. The comic timing was spot on," said Bob Linnegar, Associate Headteacher at Commonweal.

“It was great to see our students enthusiastically engage with this opportunity to perform at the very highest level with this exciting professional company. Our audience were enthralled as our students excelled themselves. Keith Defter’s annual foray to Edinburgh Fringe to find new and up and coming talent and persuade them to come and work with our students is always a fantastic way to inspire our students two create their own work.”