A multi-award-winning lyricist stopped by a school production of one of his musicals in Buckinghamshire this week to praise the ‘terrific’ talent of its students.

Staff and students at Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School in Marlow were “delighted and a little daunted” this week when renowned songwriter Sir Tim Rice attended the opening night of their senior musical, Jesus Christ Superstar.

Sir Tim composed the rock opera alongside Andrew Lloyd Webber in the 1970s and, after watching the fruits of his labour enacted onstage at The Mountfield Theatre, praised the performers for their “terrific” work, adding: “The choreography, not a foot was put wrong; the band, the lighting, the sound – I couldn’t thank you enough.”

This year’s senior musical makes up part of Sir William Borlase’s’ 400th Anniversary celebrations, and was designed to celebrate “the musical, acting and technical talents” of drama students at the school.

Jesus Christ Superstar’s sold-out run at The Mountfield will end on Thursday, February 8.

Sir Tim will begin touring his biographical show My Life in Musicals at the Wycombe Swan on April 27. Tickets are available on the theatre’s website.