Zebras, elephants, gazelles and other African animals will dance across the stage as part of Wairarapa College's Stage Challenge entry in Wellington tonight.
The 120 students in the challenge team have put together a show based on the theme of Africa - A Land Lost.
Teacher in charge Kathryn Houlistonsaid the Wairarapa College performers "look at the devastating effects of poaching in Africa".
Planning for the stage challenge started in February with a committee of Year 12 and 13 students choosing the theme from a bank of ideas, she said, adding poaching in Africa was a topical issue the students wanted to explore further.
Rehearsals started late in term one and the performers and backstage crew had been rehearsing up to three times a week for two to three hours at a time, she said.
Ms Houliston said students learned to co-operate and work together through their involvement with Stage Challenge and "learn to be committed and gain a variety of skills such as set design, costuming, music, lighting and choreography".
The Wairarapa College entourage travelling to Wellington today was to include a truck carrying giant flats that provide the scenery for the entry. The cast performed for family and friends in the college hall on Wednesday night.
