YOUNG thespians at the Ringwood Waldorf School performed the first of three nights of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream before taking the show to Stockholm.

All 24 teenagers have been taught by Marika Bjerstrom since they were seven and ever since they have wanted to visit her home country of Sweden.

Now their magical performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream has given Ms Bjerstrom the perfect opportunity to show the children her homeland.

Ms Bjerstrom said: “We are all very excited by the trip and we will be performing the play at five Steiner schools in and around Stockholm - including the school I went to myself.

“The children have been asking me from day one about Sweden and how much they would like to visit and I'm delighted to say that seven years later we're now all going.”

All of the children have a part in the play - even the scenery is made up of pupils in costume and disguise. The striking costumes, which were all designed by Ms Bjerstrom, were made by parents at a rehearsal camp during Easter.

School administrator Nigel Revill said: “Everyone from staff to parents and to the students themselves have put so much hard work and ethic into putting on these performances.

“It is a truly magical show and we hope people in the local community come along to enjoy these performances.

“I know the students will have an amazing trip of a lifetime when they take their play on tour to Sweden.”

A Midsummer Night's Dream will be performed on Friday, May 23 and Saturday, May 24 at 7pm.

The public are very welcome to attend.