Notre Dame pupils are bringing 19th century France to life with their performance of Les Miserables

The epic tale of poverty, cruelty, love, revolution and redemption is running until Saturday at the school.

A cast and backstage crew of 60 pupils have been rehearsing for the show for months and all their hard work has paid off.

Gerard Gordon, principal teacher of music, said: "It's a really challenging show as it is all singing, so the storytelling has to be done within the singing.

"Former pupils have come forward to help with the production and it's lovely to have them back.

"The audience will need to bring their hankies, it's a weepie but it's also very uplifting."

The story is set in post-revolution France and follows the struggles of Jean Valjean who breaks parole after serving 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread.

The musical ends with the Paris uprising of 1832 against the monarchy.

The backdrop to Valjean's story and the people he helps along the way include such moving songs as I Dreamed a Dream and Bring Him Home

Euan McDonald, who has a place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, is playing Valjean.

Other main characters in the drama include Simon Macdonald who plays Jalvert, Austin Smith as Maurius, Cosette played by both Grace Deveney and Niamh McLean.

Eponine is played by Ellis McQuillan and Carly Boyle and Fantine is played by Sophie Bysouth and Lucy Smith while The Thenardiers are played by Beth Cunningham and Matthew Deegan/Adam Kershaw.

The school staged the musical seven years ago and many young people who took part in the show then have continued to pursue careers in music or drama.

Gerard said: "Robbie Leith who played Valjean studied at the Royal Conservatoire and is now a music teacher, Dave Gallacher, who was in the band, has just graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music.

"Marcus Shanks also graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland this year.

"We have lots of teachers and one former pupil is a doctor and Ruairidh Forde has gone on to set up his own theatre company.

"It's good to know that so many students are continuing to pursue theatre, arts and music as a profession and if not, it still plays a huge part in their lives."