A GROUP of 60 children brewed up a production of ‘double, double toil and trouble’.

Year five pupils at Barrowford Primary School put on a performance of Macbeth looking to follow in the footsteps of Burnley’s Sir Ian McKellen.

The group of youngsters have been studying Shakespeare’s tragedy for the past three weeks, getting to grips with some complex language and dark themes.

Emma Bickerdyke, year five teacher, said: “I think the performance went really well and the children have really engaged with the play despite it being pretty gory in places.

“It’s quite a new thing getting younger children to know about Shakespeare but I think it’s really good because he’s such a huge figure in literature.

“They loved being in costumes and even kids who are normally quite shy really shone.” The youngsters certainly got a better reception than the King of Scotland did after killing his predecessor with dozens of parents turning up to watch after-school. The production was put on with Shakespeare for Kids, a drama programme which goes round schools teaching children more about the renowned playwright.

The show was watched by parents after school.