PINT-SIZED thespians are treading the boards next week as five schools get ready to stage the Bard's best bits.

The Shakespeare Schools Festival is coming to Clacton's Princes Theatre.

Jaywick's Sir Martin Frobisher Academy is performing an extract from Julius Caesar and Hamford Primary Academy a scene from Macbeth next Tuesday.

Holland Park tackles Hamlet, Alton Park will provide their own Macbeth and Whitehall Academy is taking on The Tempest on November 17.

The festival was trialled at the Princes last year, with Alton Park, Whitehall Sir Martin Frobisher now returning for the second time.

Tickets are £9 (£7 concessions and £6.50 for groups of ten or more) from the box office on 01255 686633. Shows start at 7pm.