FORMER Beech Grove Primary School and Court Fields School, Wellington, student Robert Keates is set to perform at the Royal Opera House in London.

He has been chosen as a member of the dance company for Nabucco, Verdi’s Biblical epic composed in 1841. The lead role is performed by Placido Domingo, one of the famous Three Tenors.

Robert started his stage career at Wellington Arts Centre and took various roles with the pantomime and operatic society, even helping on stage shows such as Wired for Sound.

He attended Richard Huish College and then pursued a career in contemporary dance studying at the Laban Conservatoire of Dance in London.

He has had many minor roles alongside teaching at Laban’s centre for advanced training. This also led to a year’s teaching and performing in Italy.

Robert is now back living in London and looking forward to dancing alongside a prestigious cast at a famous venue.

The opera runs on selected dates from June 6-30, with live showings available on YouTube and large screen events including Bristol and Plymouth tomorrow (Thursday).