EIGHTY children are taking to the stage next week in a Darlington school.

The pupils, aged between 11 and 18, at Carmel RC Technology College, are to perform Bertolt Brecht's The Caucasian Chalk Circle.

The play is about a young woman, Grusha, who saves an abandoned baby from a war-torn city.

The baby is discovered to be the heir to a large fortune and Grusha must defend herself in court when the real mother tries to claim the baby back.

Head of drama Moira Shepherd said: "We do a musical in the summer, but we've had a nice hall built and so two years ago, we put on a Midsummer Night's dream.

"So we're trying to do a straight drama in the winter.

"It's getting a bit nervous, now, but we're really looking forward to it."

The play is on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night next week at 7pm.

Tickets cost £5 and are available from the school office or by calling (01325) 254525.