The performance: those two words are the first that pop into a drama enthusiast's head.

The make-up, the crowd, the costumes; little do people know how much time and care goes into making the production.

After working on Tam O Shanter I fully realise how much goes and on why we act like we do. First of all, the work: the time and the effort. People often think that the shows are a breeze — they aren't.

They are long and arduous, but the rewards are amazing: friendships that you could never have imagined, jokes that have been shared and triumphs that have been obtained by all.

All of the cast become united by one single ambition: to perform. The performance creates the thrill of anticipation and an adrenalin rush to course through your veins.

I admit, the first day on the job is very nerve-racking.

You don't know who is going to be there, whether you are going to get along with them or not, or if you're going to regret that first step into the drama studio.

All of those presumptions are entirely wrong.

After the first half-hour when the director introduces everyone and tells them what we are trying to do you realise that it is one big family.

You share parts, you work together during different scenes and even if you think that you're at the back and your part doesn't matter, it is often more important than you realise at the time.

Second of all, the masks. In Tam o Shanter, we were completely and utterly behind masks; this requires a lot of ingenuity on the actor's part.

You have to act more expressively and be more believable because you don't have your facial expression to guide people.

If you ever get the chance to act in masks take the opportunity. The excitement of hardly seeing where you're going and hearing the people laughing or crying to your moving piece is incredible. Knowing that you have either moved people into sadness or to roar with laughter is an amazing feeling.

Third, the control. Off stage if you love to have control and people hanging onto your every move, join the stage. On the stage you have complete and utter control over the audience.

In rehearsals you learn how to interact with the audience and how to cover up the many mistakes that happen on a daily basis during rehearsals.

But we press through it, all a common goal, that's why we are doing it, to have recognition and excitement and to build friendships that will last a lifetime.

Tam O Shanter gave many people an opportunity to express themselves in ways you can't imagine. Furthermore, the rehearsals. For Tam O Shanter there could be about five people who had nothing to do with each other in the past, all lifting risers to make the stage- a taxing job.

They would be laughing about the mistakes of yesterday's four-hour rehearsal and the jokes that were made and the crazy things people did to get a reaction out of the audience.

All of this astounds me as some people who are in the years above me laughing along and chatting to me, to me is an honour. And when we gather everything and get into our starting positions we are all focused on one thing: acting.

Tam O Shanter gave us the chance to experience new things, like the horse prop.

I'm amazed that the horse prop, which two people are carrying, plus a saddle and me sitting on top during rehearsals didn't bring one complaint.

The two students carrying it soldiered on, even though I was rocking around non-stop.

They had to carry me for fifteen minutes without letting me down once and more because of the stops and starts of the rehearsal.

They only had padding where their shoulders met the horse.

Moreover, the performance and the nerves. The nerves that pound through your veins, making you feel vulnerable and shaky. I could almost feel the sweat beginning to form on the top of my brow as I looked on from under my mask.

This was it, Warwick Academy's moment and the moment we had been dreaming of since the beginning of January.

Lastly, the relief of a good show. My legs were shaking with relief as we smiled at the crowd, screaming and whooping in applause. The cast shared a quick look at each other and felt our job was done.

We had set out to perform and to entertain and we had done it, and now our time was over.

Two hours later as we said our last goodbyes and stumbled off to our cars (at twelve in the morning) all that was on our minds was sleep.

But I think, deep in our minds we were secretly thinking, what is going to be the next show? Drama has a slight effect on you.

Once you let it grab you, you are hooked forever.

This article is just a sneak peek into a whole new world.