A theatre school will perform a 500-year-old song and play a leading role in this year’s Lord Mayor’s Show.

Clio’s Company, which visits London schools to teach acting, has been awarded a £15,000 grant from the City of London Corporation to take part in the event.

Artistic director Lissa Chapman, of Belgrave Road in Walthamstow, has been organising and rehearsing with children ahead of Saturday’s performance onboard Clio's Company's Ann Boleyn-themed float.

“We are hugely honoured to have been selected and this is a very exciting event to be involved with. Everybody concerned is hard at work on preparations,” said Ms Chapman.

The company has discovered a song which was sung for Ann Boleyn’s inauguration in 1533 entitled The White Swan.

Inspired by the coronation, the company’s float will be horse-drawn and topped by a giant white falcon, and an actress dressed as Ann Boleyn will be enthroned on the float, accompanied by costume children.

Around 60 children dressed in tabards, representing courtiers, from primary schools in Tower Hamlets, and costumed musicians with authentic instruments will perform alongside the float.

This year’s annual celebration is in honour of the 686th Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Fiona Woolf. Ms Woolf is only the second woman ever to hold the post.

Over 7,000 participants will take in the UK’s oldest street party, now in its 798th year, on Saturday.