Budding young actors took to stages across Barking and Dagenham to put on Christmas shows.

Children performed in traditional nativities and more modern pantomimes during the last week of term for their friends, parents and teachers, and pictures from the shows can be seen in our gallery.

At Richard Alibon Primary School, Alibon Road, Dagenham, children with special needs performed Rumplestiltskin, with some of the staff also taking part.

Teacher Louise Terry said: “It is the first time the children have performed as a class in front of a large audience.

“A lot of the children have speech and language difficulties and have risen to the challenge of speaking clearly, learning lines and even ad-libbing on stage.”

At Trinity Special School, Heathway, Dagenham, children dressed in elaborate costumes for their nativity performance, with Rusmee Parveen and Callum Slattery playing Mary and Joseph in the nativity.

The reception class at George Carey C of E Primary School, Minter Road, Barking, put on a nativity, as did children from Ripple Primary School, Suffolk Road, Barking, Village Infant School, Ford Road, Dagenham and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, The Broadway, Barking.

At Grafton Infant School, Grafton Road, Dagenham, Jack Cooper and Tiffany Atuahen took on the roles of Joseph and Mary, with Oliver South, Shrish Proddaturi, and Callum Hall as the Three Wise Men.

At Thames View Infant School, Bastable Road, Barking, youngsters in different classes took on different themes for their festive show, including Tigers class, whose hats all featured Christmas trees.

Manor Primary School, Longbridge Road, Barking, put on two shows. Younger children performed in a nativity while older students put on a production of Cinderella.