The Midgley Pace-Egg play is a tradition within Calder High School and has been performed by the school for more than 50 years. The Pace-Egg is based on the oldest play in the world, The Mummers Play.

The play is based around Saint George's triumphs and boasts his great champion status. Throughout the play three challengers - Bold Slasher, the Black Prince of Paradine and Hector - try to defeat Saint George, who is a very cocky and mighty character.

The play consists of eight characters, which this year were made available to all ages due to the school's wide range of performing talent. It is an all boys cast due to the traditions of the play.

The auditions took place in front of a panel of experienced Pace-Eggers, who had the necessary knowledge to spot the right sort of raw talent for the Pace-Egg. To get the nod from the audition panel, the auditionee had to read the part of The Doctor as well as an unscripted performance of their own choosing. The auditionee also had to show their passion and interest in the Pace-Egg itself and explain why they would like to be part of it.

The lucky six successful auditionees will experience performing the oldest play in the world, performing to a wide variety of people throughout the Calder Valley and will get to make the performance their own by working outside of the box.

This year's cast will be: Billy Painter as The Fool, Johnny McQuade as Bold Slasher, Joachim Goddard as The Doctor, Sam Harris as the King of Egypt, Dario Coates as the Black Prince of Paradine, Isaac Rose as Hector, Thomas Deadman as Tosspot and Wesley Downs in the lead role of Saint George.

For those of you reading this article who have not seen the Pace-Egg before, I urge you to get to your local area this Easter and support the Calder High students, the oldest play in the world and the Calder Valley itself. The play promises to be a fantastic and memorable occasion once again, so do not hesitate. Come and celebrate Easter in style and experience a real slice of Calder Valley life.

The play will be performed at various locations throughout the day on March 21, starting at Banksfield Estate at 9am. It will then move to Mytholmroyd at 9.30am, Todmorden at 10.15am, Hebden Bridge at 11.10am and 11.40am, Midgley at 1.40pm, Luddenden at 2.15pm, Hebden Bridge at 3pm and Heptonstall at 3.30pm.