A former Lornshill Academy pupil is ready for her professional debut when she will be singing in an opera at a show in Edinburgh later this month.

Roise Simpson (21), originally from Forestmill, is set to perform her first professional role in an opera on 25 and 26 November at Summerhall, Edinburgh. In Mozart’s well known opera Le Nozze di Figaro she will play not just one, but two different roles.

Put on stage by the company VoiceArc, a new group of opera performers working in the capital, The Marriage of Figaro was given a new edge.

Rosie, who performed the same opera two years ago, explained to the Advertiser: “Instead of the more traditional period setting our production is set in a present day ‘gentleman’s club’. There are guns, gangsters and the occasional exotic dancer. It’s something really different, but we’re all really excited about it.

“This is particularly fun for me because I’ve performed this opera before, but this setting has completely changed how I sing and act in my roles. The performance will be sung entirely in Italian with English subtitles and most of the performers are young professionals from all over Europe.” Rosie got into music and drama at Lornshill where she literally, whenever she could, took every opportunity to perform. She then moved to the capital to study drama and performance at Queen Margaret University, from where she graduated this July.

She added: “The music and drama department at Lornshill is what initially guided me to do more singing and without that guidance I never would have been an opera singer.” The talented young singer and her fellow performers have been rehearsing for the last three months. On the opening night of the show she will be playing one of the female leads Susanna, who is trying to marry Figaro. On the second night she will be Barberina, Figaro’s young cousin.

She explained the challenges of playing two different roles, saying: “The problem with this is remembering when I sing what. More than once I’ve tried to sing a conversation with myself on stage, and I have to get my head around even more Italian to learn.

“I’m also really young in opera terms, most people my age haven’t sung one professional opera role, let alone two.” Rosie added: “Opera isn’t what you’d call a common career choice, but it’s something I love and I’m so happy to be involved in this production.” The show will start at 7pm both evenings and tickets will be available soon. For more information, keep an eye on www.voicearc.com.