Children who attend a stage school in Comet country will perform in the West End this summer.

More than 300 children who attend Top Hat Stage School in Stevenage will perform on stage at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane – currently home to hit musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – as part of the academy’s fundraising activities to mark its 20th anniversary.

The event will raise money for two London charities – children’s hospice Noah’s Ark and The Royal Marsden Hospital.

Warren Bacci, principal of Top Hat Stage School, said: “We are so proud to be celebrating 20 years of Top Hat, and so we wanted to give our students the chance to perform at one of the oldest and most famous theatres in the world.

“The Drury Lane show will be a celebration of variety, with the students showcasing the singing, dancing and acting skills they have learned at their Top Hat classes. There will also be some surprise celebrity guests.

“Parents, grandparents and friends are all invited to come and see them tread the boards of a West End stage.”

All children who start Top Hat classes this term, held at The John Henry Newman School in Hitchin Road, and are aged nine and over are eligible to be part of the West End show. Call 01727 812666 for more information or to book a free trial.

A number of famous actors started their careers at Top Hat, including Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films.