MURDER and mayhem is on the minds of young people at Commonweal School, Swindon.

Pupils will be treading the boards at the Salisbury Playhouse on Saturday as part of the city's Arts Festival.

Commonweal pupils were selected from a drama workshop at the Arts Centre in March.

The play, Stage Fright, draws on a mixture of traditional fairy tales but with a twist.

The script has been written by the performers, who are aged between 14 and 15, and carries messages about morality.

Fenya Lazar, 15, said: "Basically we are saying don't do drugs, don't steal and whatever you do in life always try your hardest."

The play, which is in a pantomime style, is thought provoking and at times funny.

"It's great to have had the opportunities to perform at professional venues, it has boosted our confidence," said 14-year-old Charlie Burt.

Chris Hibberd, 15, added: "We have worked with professionals and have learnt new techniques on improvisation and scripting and we have learnt it is important to work as a team.

"At first we were all talking at once and no-one was listening to one another, but now we work much better together."

The students are now hoping to perform at more venues and festivals.