JAMES Bond star Daniel Craig is backing a Wirral school’s ambitious theatre project to mark the Hillsborough football disaster.

Theatre studies students at West Kirby Grammar School are bidding to raise £15,000 to stage the unique performance at next year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

The drama aims to capture the grief and consequences of the 1989 disaster while making the story relevant and current to today’s audience.

Students have launched a series of fundraising initiatives to fund the production including an auction of “Celebrity Gifts and Promises”.

Wirral-raised actor Craig was one of the first stars to donate an auction item, sending a signed leather flying jacket from his role as Bond in Quantum of Solace.

Other celebrities including Ann Robinson, pop stars The Zutons and The Wombats have also donated items.

Jade Thomson, 17, from West Kirby, said: “We have made links with the Hillsborough Justice Campaign group and will be working very closely to use transcribed interviews and accounts within the performance.

“I wasn’t born when the disaster happened so we’ve been doing lots of research collecting files and talking to people to collect their stories. We want the production to be interesting and new to our generation because it’s so important we don’t forget what happened.”

The school’s head of drama Jo Halliday said: “Our intention is to create a moving, challenging but inspiring piece of theatre.

“We will take the finished piece to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2012. To do that, we have to raise £15,000 to cover the costs of the venue hire, use of sound and lighting equipment, publicity and marketing, travel and accommodation.”

Tickets for the auction, on November 7 at the Red Door, West Kirby, are £15 and include a welcome cocktail and canapes.

Other fundraisers include a performance in The Wro, West Kirby, based on the life and works of Oscar Wilde on November 13 and 14 at 7.30pm.

The school would also like to hear from any local businesses that can support the project.