HALTON drama students wowed audiences with a magnificent performance of a well known musical.

Cronton sixth formers staged Copacabana, written by Barry Manilow.

Three shows were a sell out and they also played to an audience of pupils from Wade Deacon High School.

Ritchie Redmond, 19, of Whitchurch Way, Halton Lodge, Runcorn played Stephen, Emma Passey, 18, of Ash Lane, Widnes was Samantha and Lola La Mar.

Chloe Astre, 17, of Tibbs Cross Lane, Widnes played Conchita Alvarez and Reuben Austin, 17, of Hampton Drive, Widnes was Rico Castelli.

Students received wonderful feedback from the audience.

One person who watched the show said: “The production was fantastic, there was clear dialogue and lively music.

“After being lucky enough to see several productions in the West End, I left the hall with the same sense of wellbeing.”

Matt Plant, head of the centre of excellence for performing arts, said: “This was a real departure for us and hugely inspired by our backstage trip at the Moulin Rouge earlier this year.

“We wanted to do something that would appeal to many different members of our audience and Barry Manilow certainly seems to get people up and about.

“Most of all it enabled us to use our wonderful dancers and this, together with our hard working and hugely committed students, became our biggest success to date.”