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They perform in the biting comedy No More Sitting on the Old School Bench by Boys from the Blackstuff writer Alan Bleasdale. The director and several of the backstage crew and front-of-house team have also taught.

The play is set in the staff room of a struggling comprehensive school on the first and last days of term and paints a vivid portrait of both pupils and teachers as they grapple with staff redeployment, an ineffective headteacher, an uncooperative caretaker and an earnest novice teacher who tries hard to ingratiate himself with staff and students alike.

Director Chris Boydell said: “The fact that Bleasdale taught in several schools in Lancashire before becoming a playwright has given him a real insight into school life and means that his humour has a really sharp edge to it.”

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Ten cast members are school students. One said: “I think we’re better behaved than the pupils in the play but some of the problems the play highlights, like bullying and the difficulties children from disadvantaged backgrounds face at school, are still very real ones at my school.”

No More Sitting on the Old School Bench is on at the University Drama Studio, Sheffield on Thursday 6 and Friday 7 February at 7.30pm and Saturday 8 at 5.30pm.

Tickets (£9/£7 for concessions) are available from the group’s website www.hallam89.com, by phone on 0114 233 5333 or 230 3718 or by email from [email protected].​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​