TO coincide with this year’s World War 1 centenary commemorations, Performing Arts students at Hereford College of Arts (HCA) take to the stage to perform their adaptation of the critically acclaimed musical, Oh What A Lovely War.

Students have been taking part in intensive rehearsals and studied many accounts of the Great War. They've even been put through their paces by a Drill Sergeant to give them an insight into the mental and physical demands of the men who were legally required to fight for their country during the war.

“That in itself was fascinating,” said Naomi Cook, performing arts lecturer at the college. “The Sergeant shouted at them, taught them their stances and turns, and made them repeat them over and over again. Some were scared, some wanted to prove they could do it; others just wanted to get through it without being singled out. What they all agreed was that they didn’t want to let each other down, and they felt incredibly lucky to be able to go back to their normal lives after an hour.”

Oh What A Lovely War runs at the Folly Arts Theatre at the Folly Lane campus from Tuesday, April 8 to Thursday, April10 at 2pm and 7.30pm daily. To book, call 01432 273359 or email enquiries@hca.ac.uk.