ALL students have a cross to bear, but it would appear that one Weymouth College academic is putting his to good use.

Josh Hobday, who stars as Jesus in an adaptation of Godspell which is being staged next week, develops a red, cross-shaped marking on his face when he is working hard in rehearsals.

Show director David Gray said: "It's really interesting. When rehearsals are going smoothly and the cast is working hard, a red cross develops on Josh's cheek.

"It is most unusual and we are taking it as a good sign!"

The musical, which is packed with catchy songs and great dance routines, is based on the hit 1970s musical which, like Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, creates fantastic stage shows from Biblical stories.

Godspell focuses on the parables told by Christ to his disciples. As he tells them on stage, the disciples act them out.

The set at Weymouth College is designed like a fairground, which David Gray thinks complements the mood and atmosphere of the production.

"The stage set for the original show back in 1971 was a playground, but we have updated it and made it a bit more relevant and modern," he explains.

"We have taken the idea of the disciples clamouring to hear Jesus's message and changed it slightly. In the 1970s, his disciples were mainly hippies, but now of course we have goths, punks, what we call the 'plastic people' as well as the hippies.

"The costumes are wonderful and the message of 'love thy neighbour' comes through strongly."

He added: "Although Godspell tells the story of Christ's life through to his death, we don't actually see the crucifixion and the play has a very upbeat ending, so it is a perfect family show for the Christmas season."

The cast includes Stuart Earp, who plays the roles of John the Baptist, Judas and a ghost train worker, while even Josh Hobday's Jesus also doubles as a dodgems worker in the fairground.

The cast is made up of students from a wide range of disciplines - not just performing arts - and first and second years have been involved with putting it together and working with costume designer Annette Sumption and make-up whiz Lis Hadfield.

David said: "It is quite a complex show with lots of humour, great songs and some cracking dance routines.

"It has also been deceptively difficult to direct because there is a lot of movement on the stage and you have to keep aware about who is doing what. Unlike most plays where you usually have one or two people on stage at any one time, here most people are on the stage all of the time."

Godspell is at Weymouth College theatre from Wednesday to Friday, December 5 to 7 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £6 plus concessions from the box office and 24-hour booking line on 01305 208702.