It is a tragic yet colourful and exotic opera, portraying a doomed love affair between an American naval officer and his young Japanese bride.

Lowestoft Journal: Finn Wood (8) from Lowestoft will be performing in the opera Madam Butterfly at the Marina Theatre.PHOTO: Nick ButcherFinn Wood (8) from Lowestoft will be performing in the opera Madam Butterfly at the Marina Theatre.PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: (C)archant2016)

And a talented young performer from Lowestoft will take to the stage at the Marina Theatre next week as he features alongside world class opera stars.

Finn Wood, eight, has been chosen to appear with the highly acclaimed Russian State Opera, as they return to town to showcase the latest Madame Butterfly opera.

Poplars Primary School pupil Finn will join an impressive cast on stage at the Marina for next Wednesday's performance of Puccini's tragic opera at 7.30pm.

Finn will portray the son of Madame Butterfly, and in the audience his proud parents, Rachel Cousins and Mark Wood, will be watching the Lowestoft Theatretrain student as he lines up with an impressive cast. Finn is 'thrilled' to be part of the opera.

His mum Rachel said: 'Finn has been attending Theatretrain at the Seagull Theatre for two or three years now, and Sarah (Lowestoft Theatretrain director) gave him the opportunity as he loves singing and one of his favourite pop stars is kyary Pamyu Pamyu from Japan.

'He also loves singing Taylor Swift and Kety Perry songs and last year he was part of the Theatretrain group that performed a show at the Royal Albert Hall.

'Finn is very outgoing but to have been chosen, well it is unbelievable,' she admitted. 'We are really, really proud and the whole family has tickets to see him – we could not believe it.'

Finn loves to draw, particularly characters from Anime movies, and the youngster is 'thrilled' to be a part of this internationally acclaimed Opera production.

Admitting it's an experience he will remember for a long time, Miss Cousins added: 'Finn is looking forward to it – he can't wait. He does do opera training and would like to go into musical theatre when he is older.

'I am sure he is a bit nervous, but having performed at the Royal Albert Hall with the Lowestoft Theatretrain, he kind of knows what to expect and just gets on with it.'

Set in Japan at the turn of the century, Madame Butterfly tells the story of a doomed love affair between an American naval officer and his young Japanese bride, whose self-sacrifice and defiance of her family leads to heartbreak and tragedy.

If you have not seen opera before, you will love this full orchestra experience with brand new settings, fantastic costumes and exquisite singing – and it also features a talented Lowestoft youngster!

? Tickets are still available for next Wednesday's performance at Lowestoft's Marina Theatre. Call the box office on 01502 533200 or visit www.marinatheatre.co.uk