A GERMAN student has been enjoying an annual visit to the region to perform in a theatre company's summer workshop.

Kevin Muller, 17, who lives near Stuttgart, first worked with Stagecoach Theatre Arts two years ago, after learning about the workshops while staying with friends.

Having returned last year, he came back again this summer and has been staying with a family in Darlington.

Along with 53 other students, aged eight to 17, he spent five days creating a full length musical, The Rhythm of Life, which was performed at the Oakwood Centre, in Eaglescliffe, on Friday night.

Having played comic villain roles in the past, this year he took on a more sinister part, as a violent and abusive stepfather.

Trudy Hindmarsh, principal at Stagecoach in Darlington and Yarm, said: "The astonishing thing is that he performs in a second language, often ad libbing, and takes instruction in a second language too, because to our shame, none of us speaks German.

"It's always a pleasure to see him and he has made some firm friends at the workshop."