IT WAS a glamorous spectacle that would not have looked out of place in London’s West End.

But the production of Cole Porter’s Kiss Me, Kate was actually the work of a partnership between two of Oxford’s top independent schools.

For the third time, pupils at Oxford High School and Magdalen College School joined forces for an elaborate musical.

More than 200 youngsters auditioned to take part in the show, which was performed at Magdalen College School from Wednesday to Saturday.

In all, 100 children from Year 11 upwards were involved, and the show sold out each night.

Producer Nick Hewlett said: “They have been involved in all aspects, from lighting and sound through to acting on the stage itself.

“It is an extraordinary feat by them because they have had a lot to balance.

“They have had an extremely busy timetable and many of them are doing their university applications at the moment along with school work, yet the children themselves ran a large amount of the production.”

Kiss Me, Kate tells the story of Fred Graham, a director of a musical version of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

He and his movie-star ex-wife, Lilli Vanessi, star opposite each other in the play within a play, and realise they are still in love.

Magdalen College School head boy Tom Roberts, 17, from Stanton Harcourt, played Fred.

He said: “It was brilliant. It has been three months of work and it just came down to those few days.

“I always get a bit nervous in that awful half-hour when the audience starts coming in, but you always know in the back of your mind that it will be all right once you begin.”

Immy Gardam, 18, from North Oxford, played Lilli.

She said: “It has been so much fun – it has been great.

“It has been a really welcome relief from things like applying for university. I don’t want it to end.”