TWO Ramsgate students have been invited to take a rare look around the Royal Opera House in London.

Myles Ratcliffe, 15, and George English, 16, impressed members of the Royal Ballet and Royal Opera House with their technical stage craft after working with 110 ballerinas on a stage management course at the Hextable performing arts centre in Swanley.

Organised by the Royal Ballet, the weekend involved the boys working with the deputy stage manager for the Royal Ballet and the lighting technician from the Royal Opera House.

They were two of just three boys who worked on the course and its culminating production of Coppelia.

The boys said: "We learned how to use they type of sophisticated lighting technology that we have not used before. We spent time finding out about the different jobs involved in stage management and theatres.

"We rigged, programmed and ran the performance, and learned about stage aesthetics and colouring. It was absolutely fascinating."

Myles and George are also accomplished musicians and members of the Chatham House Grammar School choir, where they also assist with school stage and music productions as well as offering technical help to primary schools.