Children from a primary school turned a Shakespearean tragedy into a ‘Thriller’ when they performed Macbeth at the end of their summer term.

The Year 6 students from West Ham Church School in Portway, Stratford staged the play in the school field in the summer sun as their leavers performance in front of an audience of parents, governors and special guests including councillor Freda Bourne.

Although their script featured much of the original language, it was kept up to date with music from Michael Jackson and Queen.

The 45 students treated their audience to a pop up dance performance of Michael Jackson’s Thriller to signify Macbeth’s fight to death with Macduff. For the encore the parents and guests joined in.

Refreshments were then served in the pavilion, a ‘Scottish Brew’ punch and shortbread in Macbeth’s honour.

A spokeswoman for the school said the children’s acting, costumes and special effects made for an all-round professional performance and they are extremely proud of their performance.

Mrs Gyambibi, Assistant Head Teacher and Phase Leader for Year 6, said: “Macbeth was performed by the children, for the children. The script retained much of the original language, while having a modern twist, in the form of dances to Queen’s ‘Another One Bites the Dust’ and Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’.

“The ‘roving audience’ enjoyed the performance as much as the performers themselves, especially when they were encouraged to participate in the ‘Thriller’ dance at the very end - it was a veritable Shakespearean bonanza!”