BOLTON School formed the backdrop to a student production of Wonder – adapted from RJ Palacio’s international bestseller of the same name.

Pupils in Year Eight staged the production in different areas of the boys’ division.

Wonder, which is being turned into a film this year starring Julia Roberts, tells the tale of August Pullman, following his first year at secondary school.

Along the way, the story explores the complexities of school life and growing up while also emphasising how easy it is to hurt people, exploring social diversity and demonstrating how everyone has the potential to ‘choose kind’.

Naomi Lord, Bolton School boys’ division director of drama, said: “It’s difficult to find suitable superlatives to describe the quality of the cast’s performance when ‘Wonder’ is the title of the show. The quality of writing, peer direction and performance were particularly impressive.

“I’m expecting wonderful things from this talented collective as they progress to senior productions. We are lucky to have such talented, thoughtful young people and the means by which to stretch their creative arts experiences.”

The promenade production used different parts of the building to create a variety of settings.

The great hall was used for assembly scenes and became the Pullman household.

The rear of the hall stood in as a classroom for 100 people, with the cast playing children sitting among the audience to create an authentic feel.

There was a move to the dining hall for scenes set at lunch, and even the corridors were put to use as the cast travelled the route to their summer camp.

the Studio Theatre, which was transformed into the outdoors with tents, a campfire, and disco ball ‘starlight’.

The three performances of Wonder were described as a huge success, producing a real sense of ‘wonder’.