The programme for Into The Woods at the Devonshire Park Theatre was lavishly illustrated with photographs of the cast.

But surely, there was a mistake: who were all these children wearing striped ties and school uniforms?

By some sleight of hand, limitless imagination and sheer acting skill, the children became the players in Stephen Sondheim’s musical, a Broadway smash hit from 1986 and a Disney film 20 years later.

The story, compiled from Victorian fairy tales, carried their original menacing undercurrents with which children have particular affinity, augmented by a more modern morality message.

Perhaps Sondheim never imagined children could tackle the long, complex drama and perhaps most could not, but Bede’s students made a miracle happen. They made a play come to life.

The young stars supported by a full orchestra, danced, sang and acted their hearts out, backed by dramatic scenery, clever costumes and terrifying sound effects. Design technology students created a cow that milked, birds that sang and a wolf that ate.

Coconuts galloped and hair tumbled from castles as the theatre hummed with the creative vitality of very youthful actors and the excitement of new talent inhabiting old stories. Grown-ups - who needs them?

Five stars