Writing the opera made the Year 4 pupils rise to the challenge, following the school music co-ordinator attending a summer course, run by The Royal Opera House. When we first found out about the opera project, we were all extremely excited and immediately set to work.

Firstly, we had to fill in an application form to apply for our jobs and inform our teachers what we wanted to be in the opera! Interviews and auditions followed.

Then we were split into three groups – the first group, the music group, had the task to write the music that the orchestra would play. The second group took the responsibility for drama, dance, costumes and make-up. A last group set to work on set design, lighting and marketing.

The words were worked on by the whole year group during literacy lessons and the story drew upon our learning of life in Britain during World War Two.

Every one of the 90 children had a role to play. Director, William Steward, said: “It has probably been the biggest challenge of our lives!”

Words by by Sarah Plows & Mia Hardie, Sharmans Cross Junior School, Solihull