THEY have had stars in their eyes since watching Singin' in the Rain and The Sound of Music.

Now brothers Josh and Jake Hankey, who do everything together, will be sharing a stage in Encore Productions' Into The Woods.

It is the second time the pair have worked together on one of the Warrington amateur theatre group's shows in just two years after Godspell.

But Josh, 20, and Jake, 19, from Newton, have actually been helping each other rehearse and learn lines since appearing in Oliver together at primary school.

And they are now both in the same class at drama school studying musical theatre at The Hammond School in Chester.

Josh said: "We've always done everything together. We both started playing rugby at the age of six, both went to the same school and high school and both started theatre at the same time so we're used to having each other around all the time.

"We were both at the same rehearsal together and have been performing since.

"Obviously being around each other 24/7 we disagree sometimes but surprisingly we get on really well. If we didn't get on then it would be really difficult to work together and get cast in shows."

Encore will present Into The Woods at The Brindley in Runcorn from October 19 to 21.

James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim's production borrows several of the plots and characters from the Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault fairytales and mixes them together into fantastical, dark comedy.

Josh plays the baker, who is unable to have a child due to a curse placed on his family by a witch, while Jake plays Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk.

Jake added: "This is an amazing opportunity for both of us. We are both performers aspiring to go into the theatre industry and Encore is such an amazing society that has helped us gain the skills needed to do so.

"As well as this, being on stage at a professional theatre like The Brindley gives us the experience of performing to a large number of people.

"Performing in Into The Woods has always been a dream of ours and to play our dream roles at such a younger age is an honour."

Along the way Josh and Jake have inspired each other – but both classic and contemporary musical films made a big impact on them as well.

Josh said "Growing up with things like High School Musical, being the phenomenon that it was, was a big part of my childhood.

"I was watching that film wishing I could do that as well. Also Glee showed me that you could be both sportsman, which I was at the time, and a performer."

Jake added: "I loved watching and all the old MGM-style films. My favourites were Singin in the Rain and White Christmas, and I'm actually in White Christmas alongside Into The Woods playing one of the leads with Centenary in November at The Brindley.

"Ultimately I'm getting to live out my dream and trying to be like my idol Gene Kelly."

Encore, which will be celebrating its 10th anniversary next year, was set up to make theatre more accessible to young people.

Each year the group produces two musicals and a play and hosts concerts and open mic events at Anima Jazz Bar in St Austins Lane.

Encore was also recently entered into the National Operatic and Dramatic Association's Drama Festival Awards for Goodnight Mister Tom at the Pyramid.

For tickets to Into The Woods ring 0151 709 8360 or visit tickets.thebrindley.org.uk. For more information about Encore visit encorewarrington.org.uk