MESMERISED students at Headington School were given an up-close look at an ancient art when performers from the Kala Chethena Kathakali Company shared their elaborate make-up routine.

Kathakali is the classical dance drama of the state of Kerala, India,and combines storytelling, dance, drama, music, ritual, vibrant costumes and the centuries-old, highly skilled art of make-up called ‘chutti’.

The chutti is in the Guinness Book of Records as the most three dimensional make up in the world.

Based in Southampton and founded by Keralan Kathakali actor Kalamandalam Vijayakumar and Kathakali make-up specialist Kalamandalam Barbara Vijayakumar, the Kala Chethena Kathakali Company brings world class artists from Kerala to tour nationally and internationally.

The tour focuses on making Kathakali as accessible and enjoyable to as many people as possible including children, families and students,

Kalaman Dalam Barbara Yijayakumar is the only woman to have trained to do the dancers' elaborate make-up, and the process takes such a long time that they go to sleep as it is done.

The Oxford pupils had the chance to see her in action on Tuesday when the company visited the school for a workshop that demonstrated the pre-show preparation as well as giving students a chance to view the costumes and meet the performers.