THE Beatles and the Rolling Stones played there, and now a whole Teignmouth school will be treading the same boards.

Hazeldown Primary School has hired the biggest theatre in the area, the Princess at Torquay, to stage an ambitious one-night-only variety show, and it looks like being a sell-out.

iCan is the brainwave of deputy head Chris Tribble, and 360 children will perform original song and dance numbers in colourful costumes they have made themselves. Staff and parents have also been helping out.

‘We want to show the children that they can achieve all sorts of things if they really want to, and put their mind to it.

‘It is all about giving them confidence and encouraging them to set their sights high and not settle for second best,’ explained Mr Tribble who specialises in turning around schools that need improvement.

‘This is a very exciting project and a brave new step for us, and everybody is working hard to make sure it is a success.

‘It is the chance to boost the aspirations of our children and really help them reach for the stars. Aspiration has been proven through research as one of the key drivers for higher living standards, standards of education and lifelong well-being.’

In a letter to parents, Mr Tribble declares: ‘This is a brave, new step for our school, but one to which I feel the children will rise admirably. I truly believe they deserve this opportunity to believe in a bigger, brighter future for themselves and our community, and I know you will support them all the way.’

It is believed to be the first time a primary school has hired the Princess Theatre, which seats 1,500.

‘When I approached them, they were very helpful and encouraging and gave us a good deal. Ticket sales are going well, and we are confident it will be a sell-out with huge support from families and friends.

‘We expect to break even with financial help from the PTA and sponsorship.’

Hazeldown was at one time rated as being in need of improvement by Ofsted inspectors, but last year it was rated as ‘good’, and Mr Tribble said the school had now been turned around with huge progress being made.

The curtain goes up on iCan on Thursday, July 7, at the Princess, where a host of stars have appeared over the last 50 years.