A SPANISH language assistant is to star in an upcoming production.

Rosa Sanchez Garcia, who is originally from Cadiz in Spain, will play Kate in The Three Towns Operatic Society’s production of The Pirates of Penzance.

The 26-year-old works at Bedford High School in Leigh and came to England in 2012 to improve her English, learn more of the British culture living and working in this country.

Rosa said: “I have always enjoyed singing, acting and dancing. Before joining the Three Towns Operatic Society, I sang in a group at the Carnival in Cádiz.

"When I joined the society my relatives where quite surprised as it is not very popular in Spain, it is much more about Flamenco or Carnival, which is a very popular festival. Being with the society gives me the opportunity of meeting people, improving my skills at singing as well as acting which is something I always love, as I have been in theatre since I was nine years old.”.

Her role at Bedford means she produces resources to enable students to improve their language skills, making the process of learning more interesting and helping to prepare them for oral examinations in their GCSE.

She has also put the students in touch with her secondary school in Spain as part of an an exchange project in order to give students the opportunity to get to know pupils of the same age which can be a very powerful motivation for learning a foreign language.

Rosa also teaches English on a one-to-one basis as she is a qualified teacher specialised in English as a foreign language.

The Pirates of Penzance will be staged at St. Joseph’s Hall in Leigh from May 12 to 16 at 7.30pm.

Tickets will be available from March 9 from 01942 883722 or thethreetowns.net.