A selfie-stick might not sound very inspiring, but for a group of drama students it helped them fill a theatre.

In total 26 youngsters taking part in this year’s Box Theatre project were handed a container full of objects collected by world-renowned stage director Ivo Van Hove and challenged to use them to create stories ahead of a Barbican performance.

Objects included elastic bands, a key, a conductor’s baton, a blindfold and five neck ties as well as a selfie-stick and copy of a speech from the play Angels in America.

The Barking and Dagenham College students divided into two groups coming up with one play called “Keep to the Left” - based on how rules and laws affect people - and “Where do I Start?” - about how fear can result from society’s expectations.

All the hard work - which began in January - was rewarded with a performance on the Barbican stage in front of friends, family and guests - including members of Van Hove’s own world famous theatre company Toneelgroep Amsterdam.

The college’s performing arts lecturer Becki Spindloe said: “This has been such an incredible experience for the students.

“Many have since said to me they never thought they would have the chance to take part in such a brilliant project. A lot of the students had never performed in front of an audience before, so for their debut to be at the Barbican is very special.

“They have all thoroughly enjoyed it,” she added.

And the budding actors will appear on stage again, this time at the Broadway in Barking on Friday, March 31 in a free performance as part of the Barbican at the Broadway festival.

For details visit thebroadwaybarking.com or barbican.org.uk.