After I had sung my song, I felt a huge sense of relief. After we had all sung our songs we sung the chorus to one of the songs with John Hancorn, the conductor. My mum came to pick me up at the end of the audition and I came out with a completely different feeling. I had really enjoyed it.

We have split into two groups for rehearsals, Lions and Tigers. I am a Lion and we have a rehearsal every other Monday and also every Sunday. The Monday rehearsals take place in Westgate Chapel and the Sunday rehearsals take place in a warehouse on the Phoenix estate. On a Monday rehearsal we just sing because there is no space for acting. On a Sunday rehearsal we sing and act as there is lots of room. I have to act being a blind man in a blind man’s bluff game in one scene. All the rehearsals are incredibly fun and I am always really excited for the next one.

Susannah showed us miniature models of what the stage will look like and I think it is fantastic. I am really looking forward to the performances because I love singing and I’ve wanted to be an actor for a very long time. As The Finnish Prisoners is my first opera, I can’t wait to perform part of it."