A TALENTED teenager is under starters’ orders to work on the greatest show on earth.

Gemma Friel is part of the team creating the opening and closing ceremonies at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Gemma, 19, who learnt her backstage skills at Clacton’s West Cliff Theatre, will be assistant stage manager for the Olympic ceremonies. Gemma is studying stage management at the Rose Bruford University and beat off stiff competition from hundreds of other hopefuls to take one of the 25 assistant stage managers jobs.

Gemma, whose family live in Clacton and Walton, said: “It’s really mind-blowing, almost surreal to think I will be working on the Olympics.”

Gemma first went to the West Cliff Theatre as a 16-year-old while she was on a Btec theatre production course at Clacton County High School. She progressed to stage manager for the summer shows and touring pantos, and for the last two years has helped organise and stage Time2Shine – which raises money for grants for aspiring theatre technicians.