School pupils in Redbridge enjoyed a lively and imaginative interpretation of Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis on Thursday.

The Redbridge Drama Centre in Churchfields, South Woodford, hosted a theatrical update from touring professional company Scene Productions of the celebrated story.

The tale of travelling salesman Gregor Samsa’s transformation into a giant insect was brought to life for a packed audience of paying punters and secondary school pupils from across the borough.

The audience filed in to loud cracks of thunder from the theatre’s loudspeakers and the sight of a man rocking back and forth at the back of the audience’s seats.

He turned out to be the lead character who then ran through each row on the way to the stage to the enjoyment of the teenage viewers.

Conjuring a sense of Gregor’s decline, and of his family’s breakdown when faced with his new appearance, was handled well.

And the use of a pair of fake legs to show him climbing the walls of his bedroom in full insect mode was particularly well done.

With around 4,000 students visiting every year, the drama centre continues to provide a perfect introduction to the theatre.