NORTH-EAST stage school pupils got a taste of what their futures could be like by appearing onstage with megastar Robbie Williams.

The aspiring performers, from Stagecoach academies including Darlington, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Stockton, sang with the former Take That star at Newcastle’s Metro Arena on Sunday and Monday nights.

He was performing hits from his Swing when You’re Winning album and was joined by the 20 youngsters during his High Hopes number, which prompted him to advise the children to keep their own hopes high if they wanted a career in showbusiness.

Trudy Hindmarsh, principal of the Darlington and Yarm Stagecoach academies, co-ordinated the pupils’ involvement and joked that although the youngsters were excited about meeting Robbie Williams, their mothers were even more so.

The pupils’ appearance came about after Stagecoach agreed to work with Mr Williams’ team to provide singers from academies in each region he performs in during his Swings Both Ways tour.