PUPILS from more than 40 schools across the region are set to perform at the Wycombe Swan Theatre in an extravaganza of music, dance and drama.

Children of all ages will be performing at Energize over four nights next month, with more than half of them taking part in two musicals that have been specially written for the occasion.

Another 18 schools have come up with their own individual performances for the event.

The first set of rehearsals took place last week at Highcrest Community School and Sir William Ramsay School, with both schools also taking part in the extravaganza.

All the schools taking part are members of the Wycombe Area Education Alliance, which has helped to organise the event.

Jenny Dunning, the administrator for the alliance, said: "The alliance came together 10 to 12 years ago to help the schools in the area help each other.

"More than 300 children are going to be taking part in each of the collaborative performances and it's something nice for all of them to take part in. We help the children have the opportunities they might not otherwise have had.

"Many of them have never been on stage before, so to make your first appearance at the Swan is something special."

Pupils from 11 schools will be taking part in The Sea' - written by Seer Green schoolteacher Jane Smith - and a further 13 are performing in The Bluebird', which has been penned by Liza Phipps and Avril Thompson.

Mrs Smith said of The Sea': "It consists of 12 songs, a narration and some drama. I wrote it for the school I work for and we've taken it on for Energize and developed it for 300 children.

"It's exciting for the children who will be performing before a full audience for the first time. Rehearsals went very well. The children were well prepared and we are doing very well.

"The teachers have worked hard, they do all the preparation and deserve a mention."

The first night of Energize is on Tuesday, March 11 at the Swan Theatre and it will run until Friday 14