STUDENTS preparing to perform their final production at Kidderminster College are picking up tips of the trade from a professional actor who says he has been impressed by their talent.

Richard Lee-Berke recently returned to his home in London from performing Two Gentlemen of Verona at Vienna's national theatre and is now directing a performance of the farce, Hotel Paradiso, by students on B Tech National Diploma courses in technical studies and performing arts at Kidderminster College.

The show, which is being performed in the main house of The Rose Theatre in Kidderminster next Thursday and Friday, is the culmination of two years' work for the cast of 10 actors and technical crew of around 10.

An examiner will be present in the audience but Mr Lee-Berke was keen to stress the show was not being put together as a piece of school work but as a purely professional production.

He said it was going amazingly well.

The 26-year-old, who is friends with one of the college lecturers and worked on a similar project last year, added: "They're steaming ahead and it's looking quite solid and, as far as the technical side goes, they've put together a fantastic set."

Stage manager and technical student, Katie Knowles, said it was amazing to work with a professional.

The 19-year-old, who hopes to study stage management at university and embark on a career in the entertainment industry, said: "It's going very well.

"You get so much more experience and he's given us lots of ideas."

More information and tickets for the performances can be obtained by calling The Rose Theatre box office on 01562 743745.