LEARNING Russian and Italian was the extra challenge for Ipswich theatre school pupils who performed on stage with opera stars from Moldova.The 20 youngsters who attend the Stagecoach Theatre School, took to the stage at the Regent with the Chinisau national opera from Moldova.

LEARNING Russian and Italian was the extra challenge for Ipswich theatre school pupils who performed on stage with opera stars from Moldova.

The 20 youngsters who attend the Stagecoach Theatre School, took to the stage at the Regent with the Chinisau national opera from Moldova.

They did two shows, Nabucco – in which five students played slaves, and Tosca where 15 sang the Te Deum to a packed house.

Student Louise Player, 13, sang solo as the shepherd boy at the beginning of the third act of Tosca.

A school spokesperson said: "The students performed really professionally. They were a credit to themselves and the school. No-one would have guessed that they were not regular members of the cast."

Children aged four to 16 attend Stagecoach at Copleston High School, every Friday or Saturday during termtime.

For more details call 0870 2415676.