Saturday night in front of the TV will be anything but dull for proud Brentwood parents David and Jane Gilchrist as they watch their talented daughter make her broadcast debut.

Emily Gilchrist, 18, plays the title role in the opera 'Zoe' which is being transmitted on Channel Four at the weekend.

And according to her proud dad, its a performance that the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art student has been preparing for the whole of her life.

David, who is chaplain at Brentwood School, recalled: "Since she was small, she has always loved singing and performing."

Emily, who remained at school in Eastbourne when her parents moved to Brentwood five years ago, successfully auditioned for the original Glyndebourne production of Zoe earlier this year.

The opera, which was developed during workshops on schools and colleges around Sussex, revolves around the arrival at a fictional sixth form college of a mysterious new student called Zoe.

It takes in issues as diverse as cloning, murder and teacher/student love affairs.

The 90 minute film version of Zoe can be seen on Channel four at 7.25pm on Saturday December 2.

Opera star: Emily Gilchrist in a pose from the production

Picture courtesy of Mike Hoban, Glyndebourne Festival Opera

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