Romance, tragedy and spectacle came to Wendell Park Primary School, when pupils staged Romeo and Juliet, complete with a balcony on their stage and a medieval Italian fayre in their playground.

Visitors walking through the playground to see the main performance in the school hall were treated to an outdoor pre-show of jugglers and jesters from Albert & Friends' Instant Circus, with a set recreating the buildings of medieval Verona.

The performance of Romeo and Juliet - a 45-minute version of the play, using Shakespeare's original text - was produced by the school in collaboration with professional theatre company Dramarama, with more than 30 children, aged nine to ten, taking to the stage for an audience of parents, staff, governors, local headteachers and other guests.

The set featured a balcony for the key scene when Romeo, played by Fation Burrniku, and Juliet, played by Cydney Phillip, exchange vows of love, while the children's striking costumes and masks were designed and made by classroom assistant Nick Timmerman, who is also an ex-pupil of Wendell Park.

Romeo and Juliet is the third Shakespeare play to be jointly produced by Wendell Park Primary and Dramarama. The drama project was co-funded by John Lyon's Charity and the council's Excellence in Cities programme for 'gifted and talented' pupils, part of a government initiative to raise achievement in inner city schools.

Phillip Gates, co-artistic director of Dramarama with Kate Allerston, said: "It was a vibrant, high octane production, with choreographed fight scenes and strong emotions, but we had an ethereal and peaceful element too. It was a challenge for the children to tackle such big emotions in this tragic and moving play but they rose to it very well."

Simon Robinson, headteacher of Wendell Park Primary School, said: "We chose Romeo and Juliet because it is an extremely challenging story. This was part of our arts week, which also included a visit by the BBC Singers, an art exhibition and a fashion show."

Wendell Park has just been given an Artsmark silver award from Arts Council England in recognition of the school's commitment to music, drama, dance and the visual arts, both during and after school.

Cllr David Williams, deputy for education, said: "Participation in arts subjects and events helps pupils to develop their confidence, which has an important impact on their all-round achievement. The gifted and talented programme of Excellence in Cities is giving pupils in all our schools the chance to expand their horizons and explore their creativity by enabling them to take part in exciting projects such as this. I would like to thank Dramarama for their skilful input and John Lyon's Charity for their support."