'A Creative Century' celebrates the many different ways we can express ourselves creativity at every age and stage of life.

We photographed and talked to ten people, one from each decade of our lives - meet our 40-something . . .

Name: Kirsty Tomassi
Age: 47
Enjoys: Performing with the Bohemians Lyric Opera Company

“I first joined an amateur dramatics company when I was 20, had just moved to Edinburgh and didn’t really know anybody. I saw an advert in the paper, plucked up the courage to audition, got in and I’ve never looked back.

The welcome you get when you join an amateur group is huge, everyone’s so friendly – and there are loads of different ways you can get involved with a musical theatre company, performing or behind the scenes.

We rehearse for five or six months, and when you get closer to the show there’s a really good vibe and everybody’s super-excited. Then on opening night, it’s just electric backstage.

I feel really alive when I go on stage and I love singing – the sound you get when you all sing together is immense. It’s such an amazing feeling, belting out a song in harmony with 60 other people, it just makes me really happy.”

To find out more about the Bohemians Lyric Opera Company (and maybe join!) visit http://bohemians.org.uk/

To meet the other nine people in our Creative Century project, click here.

Photo credit: Derek Anderson www.derekanderson.co.uk